ANGE POSTECOGLOU is eyeing the posibility of a move for Manchester City’s versatile Ko Itakura.
The new Celtic boss is well aware of the qualities of the 24-year-old Japan international after his time at Yokohama F Marinos.
Itakura has been playing in Holland on loan with Groningen over the last 18 months, but is likely to be up for grabs again in the summer, according to a report in the Daily Record.
Postecoglou, who has also been linked with Hajduk Split’s £5million-rated 19-year-old central defender Mario Vuskovic, has hit the ground running in his plans for a revamp at the Parkhead club with the opening Champions League second round qualifier against the Danes of FC Midtjylland due at Parkhead three weeks today.
Itakura, who has five Japanese caps, can operate in defence and also as a holding midfielder.
City signed him from J League side Kawasaki Frontale in 2019 before they sent him to Holland.
The Hoops and the Etihad club, of course, have recent transfer links with the likes of of John Guidetti, Jason Denayer, Patrick Roberts and Daniel Arzani arriving on temporary contracts while Dedryck Boyata and Olivier Ntcham were bought in permanent deals.
Erik Sviatachenko has been mentioned as a possible return from the club’s European foes while the Hoops have been keeping an eye on Ecuadorian international stopper Piero Hincapie, but reports in Italy claim the teenager is close to a move to Lazio.
