Reporter claims ‘top defender’ can leave for £26m, Postecoglou has eyed him for Tottenham

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Tottenham Hotspur may have a route to signing Stuttgart defender Hiroki Ito in 2024 amid claims that he has a release clause in his contract.

Stuttgart defender Hiroki Ito has a release clause in his deal – and that may just attract interest from Tottenham Hotspur.

That is according to Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, who claims that Ito can leave Stuttgart for €30million in 2024.

Tottenham are scouring the market for a new centre back ahead of the January transfer window.

Micky van de Ven is out injured and Tottenham will now look to bring in another left-footer as competition for the Dutchman.

Hiroki Ito could leave Stuttgart in 2024

One name Tottenham reportedly fancied over the summer was Stuttgart ace Hiroki Ito.

Sponichi Annex in Japan reported in June that Tottenham were interested in bringing Ito to North London.

Boss Ange Postecoglou knows the Japanese market well having previously managed Yokohama F. Marinos.

No deal was done over the summer but Ito fits the bill in terms of a fast, left-sided centre back for Postecoglou’s system.

Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg now claims that Ito can leave Stuttgart for €30million (£26million) thanks to a release clause in his contract.

Plettenberg describes Ito as a ‘top defender’ and claims that the Japan international would ideally like to stay until the summer.

Tottenham will surely be well aware of Ito’s situation and will have him on the radar for a 2024 move.

Ange Postecoglou eyeing another Japanese defender

Ito isn’t the only Japanese centre back who appears to be on the Tottenham radar.

Reports earlier this month suggested that Tottenham are interested in snapping up Union Saint-Gilloise defender Koki Machida.

The pair are Japanese international teammates and both appear to have put themselves onto Postecoglou’s radar.

Both are athletic, left-sided defenders who can offer competition for Van de Ven, though we expect Ito to be more expensive given his Bundesliga experience.

Other options are on the radar but don’t be surprised if Postecoglou brings a Japanese signing or two to Tottenham, just as he did at Celtic.