Tottenham Hotspur are showing an interest in signing Stuttgart defender Hiroki Ito as Ange Postecoglou eyes a Japanese signing.
Hiroki Ito has now become a Tottenham Hotspur target as Ange Postecoglou looks to add another centre back.
That is according to Sponichi Annex in Japan, who claim that ‘multiple officials’ believe Ito is a Tottenham target.
The report adds that Stuttgart are already identifying replacements with Ito Tottenham considered a real possibility.
Who is Tottenham Hotspur target Hiroki Ito?
Ito emerged with Jubilo Iwata in his native Japan, making just one J1 League appearance before the club were relegated.
Ito then played nine times whilst on loan at Nagoya Grampus, before heading back to become a first-team ace with Jubilo Iwata.
Despite playing in Japan’s second tier, Ito attracted interest from Stuttgart and immediately emerged into their first-team picture.
Ito has now played 58 Bundesliga games for Stuttgart, playing mostly as a centre back but also as a left back and even holding midfielder.
24-year-old Ito is a naturally left-footed centre back, with his left foot being hailed as ‘unbelievable’ by former Stuttgart man Sven Mislintat.
A left-footed defender is surely something Tottenham would love to add to Ange Postecoglou’s squad.
Clement Lenglet is only on loan from Barcelona and didn’t exactly excel last season, so Spurs could go for Ito – an ascending talent who may not break the bank.
Ange Postecoglou’s history with the Japanese market examined
New Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou placed a keen focus on signing Japanese players at Celtic.
Postecoglou quit Yokohama F. Marinos for Celtic in 2021 and immediately snapped up striker Kyogo Furuhashi from Vissel Kobe.
Kyogo made a huge impact so Postecoglou went back to the Japanese market, signing Kawasaki Frontale midfielder Reo Hatate and Daizen Maeda from former club Yokohama.
Yosuke Ideguchi joined from Gamba Osaka with limited success, but that didn’t stop Postecoglou from landing two more Japanese players for Celtic.
Defender Yuki Kobayashi and midfielder Tomoki Iwata came in during the January window, leaving Vissel Kobe and Yokohama F. Marinos.
Postecoglou could now bring a Japanese star to Tottenham with Ito on his wish list.
Ito was shining in Japan’s lower leagues when Postecoglou was coaching in the top flight, so he may have been on the Australian’s radar for a while.
Ito was out of Celtic’s range whilst with Stuttgart but Tottenham could now land him and bolster their back line.
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