Ko Itakura has an uncertain future at Manchester City as was expected to turn his loan move at FC Schalke 04 permanent before the deal broke down due to insuffienct funds. The 25-year-old could now be on the move elsewhere, and award-winning Sky Sports journalist Anthony Joseph says Celtic are one club ‘monitoring’ the situation.
The Scottish Premiership side are coming off the back of winning the title, but Ange Postecoglou has recognised the need for more centre-backs. He’s not short of numbers with Christopher Jullien, Carl Starfelt, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Stephen Welsh, Liam Scales and Osaze Urhoghide on the books, but, Carter-Vickers was only on loan, Jullien and Urhoghide hasn’t played all season, and Welsh and Scales have been bench-fodder in recent months, so a new face will be needed.
Itakura will be available this summer as he doesn’t have a future back at Man City. The Japanese international hasn’t made a senior appearance since joining from Kawasaki Frontale in 2019 and is behind John Stones, Ruben Dias, Nathan Ake and Aymeric Laporte in the pecking order, so Celtic could take advantage.
It will all depend on the player and where he wants to go ahead of next season.