In a recent report, Sky Germany claimed that Tottenham Hotspur are keen on signing Borussia Monchengladbach defender Ko Itakura. It has been mentioned that Spurs could face competition in the form of Liverpool in pursuit of the Japanese defender.
Itakura’s Injury Problems In German Football This Season
Itakura has endured an injury ravaged season at the German club after missing a lot of games for them due to an ankle injury. The 26-year-old has scored two goals in eight matches for Borussia Monchengladbach during this campaign across all fronts.
The Yokohama-born talent has been a rock at the back and deserves credit for averaging 1.7 tackles, 1.7 interceptions and 3.0 clearances per game in the Bundesliga. He has even been accurate when distributing possession from inside his half after completing 88.7% of his attempted passes in league football (stats via whoscored).
His current contract at Monchengladbach will expire in the summer of 2026. Hence, it won’t be easy for Spurs to get a deal done for the Japan international on the cheap before the end of this month.
Is Itakura A Good Fit For Tottenham Hotspur Boss Angelos Postecoglu?
Itakura is a tough-tackling defender who can sense the danger well to secure the ball back for his team inside his half. He doesn’t hesitate to put his foot through the ball when needed and excels at playing his way out from the back. Standing at 1.88m, Itakura can use his powerful frame to win his fair share of aerial duels on the defensive end of the field.
The Japanese sensation is primarily a central defender but can also function as a defensive midfielder if told to do so by his manager. We can expect him to bring more bite and steel to Tottenham boss Angelos Postecoglu’s defence. However, only time will tell whether the gifted defender can cope with the physical side and high intensity of Premier League football.
At 26, Itakura is about to enter his prime soon which makes him a good fit for the North London club in the long run. Thus, it makes sense for Spurs to step up their pursuit to bring him to the English capital this January or at the end of this campaign.
