Liverpool and Tottenham Interested in Borussia Monchengladbach’s Ko Itakura
Ko Itakura, the former Manchester City center-back, is reportedly attracting interest from Liverpool and Tottenham as he looks set for a return to the Premier League. After an impressive spell in the Bundesliga with Borussia Monchengladbach, Itakura has caught the attention of top clubs once again.
Itakura joined Monchengladbach in the summer of 2022 after helping his former side, Schalke, secure promotion to the Bundesliga for £4 million. Since then, the Japanese star has made 34 appearances for the club and was even awarded the Player of the Month award in August last year.
According to renowned reporter Fabrizio Romano, Itakura is “one to watch in 2024 as top clubs are monitoring Japanese CB.” Romano also revealed that Liverpool has sent scouts multiple times to observe Itakura’s performances. Additionally, Ange Postecoglou, who had been eyeing up the defender during his time at Celtic, is now “monitoring” him.
Although Itakura is still under contract with Borussia Monchengladbach until mid-2026, his release clause is not valid in January. Transfermarkt currently values him at £13 million.
Itakura’s versatility is another factor that makes him an attractive prospect. He can play both as a center-back and a defensive midfielder, which could be beneficial for Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool as they deal with injuries to Joel Matip and Stefan Bajcetic. Similarly, Tottenham could benefit from defensive reinforcement after losing Cristian Romero to a hamstring injury.
Overall, Itakura’s potential return to the Premier League has generated significant interest from top clubs, and it will be intriguing to see where he ends up.