Spurs are interested in the £4 million Romero clone who previously restrained Neymar. Posted two hours ago by Angelus Sinclair
This versatile defender might be Radu Dragusin’s ideal replacement.
The opinion of Ko-Itakura-Nymar-Tottenham
This coming weekend, English domestic football will be dominated by the FA Cup third round, meaning Tottenham Hotspur will only play one Premier League match until the end of January.
Granted, that league matchup is against Manchester United at Old Trafford, and despite the Red Devils’ dismal start to the season, Ange Postecoglou’s team will need to remain sharp if they are to extend their current winning streak.
After enjoying an incredible start to the season and leading the early title race, injuries and absences to key players destroyed the comeback, and a five-match losing streak actually threatened the Champions League race itself. As a result, this season’s football will remain domestic due to last year’s eighth-place finish.
Even though the London team has been playing well lately and will be encouraged by the impending return of several key players, it is obvious that a defender is needed; Postecoglou even said that signing a center-half is his “priority” for this month.
January transfer targets for Spurs.
Over the past few months, Spurs technical director Johan Lange has trolled the market for potential backline recruits. OGC Nice’s Jean-Clair Todibo has drawn a lot of attention, but transfer guru Fabrizio Romano said that talks had broken down because Spurs needed a quick fix.
The series A of Radu-dragusin-Genoa
Radu Dragusin of Genoa was the latest candidate to take centre stage in the rearguard, and although it has been reported that a deal has been moving towards completion over the last few days, Serie A winners Napoli have upset the apple cart with their renewed interest in the defender, who is valued at £25 million.
If Spurs are unable to acquire the Romanian, pursuing their interest in Ko Itakura may be the ideal answer. According to Caught Offside, Spurs and Liverpool are both known suitors for the Borussia Monchengladbach player, who is lured to the idea of joining the Premier League.
The playing style of Ko Itakura
Itakura, 26, spent several years out on loan and never made it into Pep Guardiola’s starting lineup for Premier League powerhouse Manchester City until joining Gladbach for €5 million (£4 million) in 2022. Since then, he has been a regular in the defence for Gladbach.
When he was a member of City’s roster, on loan at Groningen in the Netherlands, analyst Hans Kraay praised him as “one of the very best central defenders in the Eredivisie” and mentioned his “incredibly fast” pace.
The transfer of the Itakura-Gladbach-Spurs-Ange Premier League
However, since settling down in the German Bundesliga permanently, the £31k-per-week star has established himself as one of the most dependable and dynamic defenders in the division, winning 62% of his duels, completing 91% of his passes, and averaging 3.8 clearances per game in the league last season, according to Sofascore.
The 22-cap international this season suffered an ankle injury in October after making two goals in seven appearances. Although he hasn’t played since, his inclusion in Japan’s team for the Asia Cup suggests that a return to full fitness is imminent.
The Japan international shows off his wide range of skills by ranking in the top 12% for pass completion, the top 15% for goals scored, and the top 7% for blocks per 90 in Europe’s top five leagues over the previous season, according to FBref.
Only under Postecoglou’s direction would such a style be encouraged, as the Australian has a tendency to encourage mobility in expression among his group.
Itakura was praised in 2022 for his commanding performance for Japan against Neymar Jr. of Brazil in a friendly prior to the World Cup. Although the forward, who is currently with Al-Hilal, scored the game’s lone goal from the penalty spot, Itakura’s lively play was evident, as his manager stated: “His contribution was a big part of the reason why the team was able to fight without collapsing.”
Additionally, he is comfortable playing on either side of the centre defence, so if needed, he could step in for the left-footed Micky van de Ven with assurance.
Reasons for Spurs to acquire Ko Itakura
Swearing poetically about the 6′ 1″ defender’s erratic style of play, “Ko covers an unbelievable amount of ground and is a tactically disciplined player who can operate in different positions in defence, including as a No. 6,” stated Gladach sporting director Roland Virkus.
Itakura may be the ideal replacement for English football’s best defender, Cristian Romero, given his instinct for scoring goals, ball-playing prowess, and physicality. Romero has struggled with injuries and bans this season, making him unavailable far too often.
Cristian Romero: Essential Features
Advantages
Limitations
Going Away
Rules and Regulations
Taking On
dribbling
*Reproduced from WhoScored
Romero has made 15 appearances in the Premier League this season, scoring three goals while completing 92% of his passes, averaging 5.9 ball recoveries and 3.4 clearances per game, and winning an impressive 70% of his duels.
In addition, he’s in the top 13% of positional peers in goals scored, the top 5% in tackles, the top 14% in blocks, and the top 17% in passes attempted and completed per 90.
Regarding Spurs’ comeback this year, Charlie Eccleshare of The Athletic credited the Argentine’s leadership for much of the team’s newfound stability, stating: “He gives the rest of the back five, who had either never played in the Premier League or very little experience, a sense of belonging and potential.” He is a superb defender that you should have on your team. Incredible bravery.
opinions on Radu, Dragusin, Cristian Romero, and Tottenham
Similar to the star player for the Lilywhites, Itakura has proven to be an important part of the Gladbach team and was called a “leading figure” by former manager Daniel Farke during the previous campaign.
It makes perfect sense for Tottenham to sign a center-back, and Itakura would be the wise addition to truly make an impact for this ambitious group of players, especially with Bayern Munich showing interest in Eric Dier.
