Liverpool will reportedly be able to snap up an alleged target in Ko Itakura for as little as £8.5m this summer.
Florian Plettenberg of Sky Germany reported on X (formerly Twitter) that the Tottenham-linked star will have a release clause worth £8.5-12.8m this summer.
Fellow transfer news guru Fabrizio Romano had previously covered the Reds’ interest in the Japan international, noting that Jurgen Klopp’s side had sent scouts ‘multiple times’ to track his performances.
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A potential Joel Matip replacement?
It’s yet another reported defensive target with a concerningly low aerials won percentage (44% in 2023/24, compared to an average of 54.3% in the Bundesliga).
We’re not so sure he’s an outright Joel Matip replacement either given that the 26-year-old completes considerably less progressive carries per 90 than our Cameroonian centre-half, according to FBref.
That said, given how well the surprise signing of Wataru Endo this summer – Itakura’s international teammate and captain – we perhaps shouldn’t be too hasty in dismissing him as an option.
We’ll keep an eye on how this story progresses. Hopefully, Romano might have some positive updates for us all to sink our teeth into come the summer!