Tottenham swoop in on Serie A defender Takehiro Tomiyasu wanted by David Moyes at West Ham

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West Ham United’s fierce rivals Tottenham Hotspur are using their new Italian connections to try and sign a David Moyes target.

There is no love lost between West Ham and Tottenham. And there have been a number of flash points between the clubs over the years.

Last January Spurs stole in at the 11th hour to beat West Ham to the signing of midfielder Gedson Fernandes.

But West Ham had the last laugh because the Portuguese was a complete flop and Moyes ended up signing the brilliant Tomas Soucek instead.

Tottenham using new Italian connections to try and beat West Ham to another player

West Ham went on to finish above Tottenham last season and secure Europa League football while Spurs will compete in the much derided new UEFA Conference League.

But both clubs need to bring in players in key positions this summer, not least defence.

And now Tottenham are moving to try and sign Moyes target Takehiro Tomiyasu.

Following the departure of Fabian Balbuena West Ham are looking to sign a new defender.

Hammers rock Angelo Ogbonna turns 34 next season and Moyes only has Craig Dawson and Issa Diop as senior centre halves beyond that.

Hammers have been heavily linked with impressive Japan star but Spurs have opened talks

West Ham were heavily linked with a move for Bologna’s Japan star Takehiro Tomiyasu in the summer window last year.

Tomiyasu fits Moyes’s recruitment philosophy perfectly.

He is young, athletic, robust – rarely missing a game – energetic and hungry. The 27-capped Japan star is also extremely versatile.

Tomiyasu is renowned for his brilliant range of passing and the fact he can play as a centre back, full back and defensive midfielder.

But now it seems West Ham could miss out the 6ft 2in 22-year-old to bitter rivals Tottenham.

According to Sky Sports managerless Spurs have ‘opened talks’ with Bologna to sign the Japan international.

West Ham fans won’t be happy at prospect of missing out to Spurs but Milenkovic deal appears to be new priority

Spurs’ new managing director of football is Italian Fabio Paratici. And he is looking to use his contacts back home to beat the likes of West Ham and Atalanta to a deal for Tomiyasu.

Sky Sports reports Tottenham could sign the defender for as little as £17m.

West Ham fans will not be happy at the prospect of losing out to Tottenham for a player Moyes has targeted for a long time.

But it seems the Hammers boss may have moved on to other targets with a string of reports linking the east Londoners with Tomiyasu’s fellow Serie A defender Nikola Milenkovic.

The Serbian would reportedly welcome a move to West Ham as the club haggles with Fiorentina over the fee.

In other West Ham transfer news, Moyes and co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold have been told they must move quickly if they want to sign prime striker targets Tammy Abraham this summer.