Newcastle and West Ham initiate contact for signing – €20m can ‘represent basis for start of negotiations’

Newcastle United and West Ham have both ‘asked for information’ on Bologna defender Takehiro Tomiyasu.

That’s according to Corriere di Bologna, who say that the centre back is being ‘courted’ by the Premier League duo.

They explain that the pair are keen to improve their defences this summer, having conceded 58 and 62 goals respectively last season.

That has led them to look at possible additions, and Japanese international Tomiyasu is one of the players they are looking at.

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Corriere state that both have ‘asked for information’ from Bologna about the 21-year-old centre back, which presumably means they’ve asked the club for their asking price.

West Ham, in particular, are said to have €20m to invest on a new centre-back, and that is a figure that could make Bologna ‘waver’ in their determination to keep him.

If not, it could at least ‘represent the basis for the start of negotiations’, especially if the Serie A side can create an auction between West Ham and Newcastle for him.

Whether the Magpies have that much money to spend on a new centre back isn’t mentioned, although it’s easy to imagine they don’t given the budget at Newcastle has always been limited under Mike Ashley’s stewardship.

Either way, both clubs know the price that could make Bologna think about a transfer, it now remains to be seen if either will offer it.