Fabrizio Romano confirms Ange wanted Spurs target at Celtic

Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that Ange Postecoglou wanted to bring Ko Itakura to Celtic during his time in charge of the club. The Australian enjoyed success in raiding the Japanese market for new players during his time in charge and Romano has confirmed that Ange has followed this up while at Spurs.

Taking to Twitter/X, Romano stated that Itakura is one to watch this January as a number of clubs monitor the central defender with a view to making a move. The transfer guru continued by stating that Itakura was a transfer target for Celtic while Ange was at the club.

🇯🇵 Ko Itakura, one to watch in 2024 as top clubs are monitoring Japanese CB.

Understand Liverpool have sent their scouts multiple times to follow Itakura’s performances.

Tottenham also monitored him as Ange Postecoglou wanted Ko at Celtic.

Release clause NOT valid in January. pic.twitter.com/E6Ce08dAd4

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 1, 2024

Celtic had been keen on taking the player from Manchester City but the Japanese Internationalist opted for a move from Schalke before moving to Gladbach in the summer of 2022 for €5m.

Ange signed Kyogo, Daizen Maeda, Reo Hatate, Yosuke Ideguchi, Tomoki Iwata and Yuki Kobayashi from the J-League but was linked heavily with the defender, who is now plying his trade with Borussia Monchengladbach. The Scottish Champions have enjoyed success on the whole with their trading from Japan and will likely keep tabs on emerging talent in the region in future; however, clubs in Europe are acutely aware of the talent being produced in Japan.