Liverpool 'put out transfer feelers' for ex-Manchester City defender impressing in the Bundesliga
Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly set to battle it out for Borussia Monchengladbach defender Ko Itakura - with a release clause in his contract set to be active from the summer.
The 26-year-old centre-back has caught the eye since moving from Manchester City to Borussia Park 18 months ago after successful loan spells at FC Groningen in Holland and later Schalke 04. According to Sky Germany, Anfield officials have already "put out feelers" for Itakura and could make a move for the Japan international in the summer window as they begin to initiate plans for life after Virgil van Dijk and the injured Joel Matip, whose contract expires at the end of the season.
But a potential move for the Monchengladbach defender is unlikely to come without its challenges given Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou tried to lure Itakura to Celtic Park during his two-year spell in charge of the Scottish giants. The report adds that the defender's release clause, active from July, will be worth between €10m-€15m.
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In August, Itakura was named Monchengladbach's player of the month, finishing ahead of Tomas Cvancara and Julian Weigl to claim the award. It wasn't just in front of his own goal that the defender was able to catch the eye in the opening weeks of the season as he combined his strong defensive skills with goals against Augsburg and Bayern Munich.
Itakura, who is currently representing Japan at the Asia Cup alongside Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo, has made just seven Bundesliga starts this term after missing two months of action with an ankle injury between
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