Serie A expert Conor Clancy expects Bologna defender Takehiro Tomiyasu to leave the club this summer amid intense links with Tottenham Hotspur, with CalcioMercato reporting that an agreement could be imminent.

Spurs have been heavily touted as a potential destination for the defender this summer, as the club look to strengthen Nuno Espirito Santo’s squad ahead of the new season.

The deal appeared to stall as Tomiyasu played for Japan at the Olympics but reports have suggested that the club remain confident of securing his signature.

Spurs have already strengthened their defence by signing Cristian Romero from Atalanta, while they have also brought in his former team-mate Pierluigi Gollini, as well as winger Bryan Gil from Sevilla.

Tomiyasu can play as both a centre-back and as a right-back and has been with Bologna since 2019, making 63 appearances for the club.

And Clancy, who is the editor-in-chief of Forza Italian Football, thinks now is the right time for him to depart the club and take the next step in his development.

He said: “I’m kind of expecting him to leave because even before the Spurs links came about, he was linked with Atalanta because he’d perfectly fit that bill.

“If Atalanta were looking at him as a wing-back it means he’s probably good enough to play at any club in the world because they scout really, really well in that position.

“Tomiyasu is a very, very dependable player and he’s someone who should be moving on from Bologna by now. He very, very rarely makes mistakes. Defensively and offensively he’s good.”