Romano Drop Hints On Center Back Target After Dragusin
Assessing Ange Postecoglou’s impact at Tottenham Hotspur midway through the season proves challenging, particularly when gauging success solely based on outcomes.
The former Celtic manager commenced with a strong footing, fueling discussions about his team’s potential in the Premier League title race. However, their initial league defeat—a 4-1 setback against Chelsea—marked the beginning of a stumble, partly due to circumstances beyond the Australian’s control.
Injuries to crucial players have compounded issues, laying bare Spurs’ vulnerability in squad depth. The upcoming January transfer window offers a potential remedy, with North London now potentially eyeing a Bundesliga defender following the rumored pursuit of Radu Dragusin.
Although players like James Maddison, Micky van de Ven, and Guglielmo Vicario have showcased their abilities, it’s evident that Tottenham required more reinforcements during the summer transfer window.
Amidst Van de Ven and Cristian Romero’s injuries, Postecoglou found himself forced into forming makeshift center-back pairings, a situation he aims to avoid in the future. Dragusin’s possible arrival should alleviate concerns, yet Tottenham might seek another defensive reinforcement.
Fabrizio Romano, in his Daily Briefing with Caught Offside, highlighted Tottenham’s familiarity with Ko Itakura from Borussia Monchengladbach, indicating the Japanese defender as a potential target once the Dragusin pursuit concludes.
Romano mentioned, “Itakura would welcome a Premier League move, and Tottenham are acquainted with him, but their immediate focus remains on Radu Dragusin as discussed for several days.
Liverpool has also scouted him multiple times over the past year, so it remains to be seen if any club initiates negotiations with Borussia Monchengladbach now or in the upcoming summer.”
Having previously secured a move to Manchester City, Itakura didn’t find substantial opportunities in the Premier League before departing permanently in the summer of 2022. Nearly two years later, the Japanese international might finally grasp his chance in England’s top flight with a prospective January move, a prospect well deserved.
Itakura’s statistical comparison with Romero, Ben Davies, and Van de Ven indicates his capacity to match Spurs’ current defensive options.
| Player | Tackles Per Game | Interceptions Per Game | Aerial Duels Won Per Game | Pass Percentage |
| Ko Itakura | 1.7 | 1.7 | 2.1 | 88.7% |
| Ben Davies | 1.4 | 0.6 | 1.9 | 92.1% |
| Micky van de Ven | 1.6 | 0.4 | 1.3 | 94.6% |
| Cristian Romero | 2.1 | 1.1 | 2.1 | 92.3% |
Gaining praise during his tenure at Gladbach, Itakura earned recognition from former manager Daniel Farke via Gladbach’s official X account: “Ko Itakura is another crucial player for us.
Despite his brief time here, he’s shown exceptional character and emerged as a leader. His performance has been outstanding, and we hope it continues.”
With the winter transfer window underway, keeping an eye on the Gladbach defender becomes essential, especially if Tottenham secures an early deal for Dragusin.