As Celtic look to bolster their first team squad ahead of the start of the new season, Ange Postecoglou seems to be scouring a market he knows well from his time at Yokohama F Marinos.
The Japanese market is one that Ange has vast experience in and as he has stated his intentions of scouring the Far East for talent, it seems the latest transfer target being reported for the new Celtic gaffer is 24 year old Japanese international, Ko Itakura, as reported by The Scotsman.
Itakura is currently on loan at Groningen from Manchester City and has featured for the Dutch side on more than 50 occasions.
He started his career at Kawasaki Frontale as part of their youth system and after eight years, went on to make 21 appearances for the first team.
He was picked up by Manchester City with the intention of selling him on as part of The City Group and it is expected the Japanese international, who has five caps under his belt, will be put up for sale this summer.
Itakura was loaned to FC Groningen back in 2019 and after an impressive first spell, the deal was increased by a further season in 2020. Out of his 50 appearances he has only found the back of the net once, but as a player that plays mainly in central defence or as a defensive midfielder, that wont have any decisive bearing on whether Postecoglou makes his move.
With transfer speculation mounting everyday, Celtic fans will be waiting with baited breath on who will become Postecoglou’s maiden summer signing of his Parkhead revolution.
