Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur are keen on signing 26-year-old Borussia Monchengladbach defender Ko Itakura.
Ko Itakura has done quite well in the Bundesliga, and a report from Sky Germany has claimed that Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur have sounded out moves for the 26-year-old centre-back.
Liverpool Want a Centre-Back
Liverpool need to bring in a quality defender who can replace Joel Matip at the end of the season. The Cameroonian centre-back will be out of contract in the summer, and Liverpool will have to replace him adequately if he does not renew terms.
Ko Itakura has proven himself to be a quality performer in the Bundesliga, and he has the quality to do well in the Premier League as well. Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has been keeping tabs on the Japanese defender for a while, and it will be interesting to see if Liverpool can win the race for signature.
They will need to add more depth and quality to their squad to compete for major trophies next season. Liverpool have the bones of a very good squad, but they need more options at their disposal so that they can rotate the squad and keep the players fresh for the big games.
A move to Liverpool would be an excellent opportunity for Itakura as well, and it would be a major step up in his career. He will look to prove himself in the Premier League and compete for major trophies with the Reds. The opportunity to work with the world class manager like Klopp will be an added incentive.
Tottenham Also Keen on Ko Itakura
Meanwhile, Tottenham need to add more quality to their defence as well. They have done well to sign Radu Dragusin from Genoa this month, but they need to bring another central defender. Ko Itakura could complete their defensive unit for the foreseeable feature.
The 26-year-old has proven in himself in the Bundesliga, and he will look to take the next step in his career. A move to Tottenham or Liverpool will be an attractive opportunity for him, and it remains to be seen where he ends up. Both clubs have the financial resources to get the deal done. The 26-year-old defender is likely to cost around €10-15 million at the end of the season.
