German outlet Sport1 claim Celtic are set to miss out on Manchester City defender Ko Itakura, with a four-year deal on the table from Gladbach. Itakura starred for Schakle on loan last season, helping them gain promotion.
Itakura, 25, played 32 times for Schalke last season after joining the club last summer on loan – scoring four goals. He helped his side keep nine clean sheets, as they gained promotion as Bundesliga champions.
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Reports claimed this month that a fee of £5million would get the Manchester City star – after Schalke confirmed they would not be signing him. Itakura has spoken of his delight at hearing Celtic were interested.
However, the latest report states that Gladbach have an offer on the table for Itakura and the Japanese ace is set to sign. It will see him remain with the Bundesliga club until the summer of 2026.
Celtic to miss out on Itakura: Set to sign for Gladbach
A bit of a blow for Celtic. Itakura would have been a wonderful signing for Celtic but it is hardly surprising that bigger German clubs are interested in his services. But it could have been a whole lot worse for the Hoops.
Instead, since the initial interest in Itakura surfaced, they have announced a permanent deal for Cameron Carter-Vickers. The US star remains, alongside Chris Jullien, Carl Starfelt and Stephen Welsh.
For a fee of £5million, Itakura would have been ideal for Celtic – joining a quartet of Japanese stars at Celtic. But a move to Gladbach is a great move for the Manchester City man.
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