Report: Club trying to tie player to new contract as Postecoglou’s interest emerges

Florian Plettenberg has revealed that Borussia Monchengladbach are trying to tie Ko Itakura to a new contract to ward off Ange Postecoglou’s and Tottenham’s interest in the centre-back.

Spurs have already strengthened at centre-back this window with the acquisition of Radu Dragusin and it has now emerged that the Lilywhites have set their sights on another aggressive, lanky defender.

Sky Sports Germany revealed on Wednesday that Spurs and Liverpool are both circling over Itakura, who is currently away at the Asian Cup with Japan.

It was explained that Postecoglou had previously tried to take the defender to Celtic and could now look to reunite with the Japanese international at Spurs.

The publication added that there is a release clause of around €10m-€15m (£8.5m-£12.8m) in the 26-year-old’s contract, which can be activated next summer.

Ko Itakura has a release clause in the summer

Plettenberg has now also confirmed that Postecoglou is keen on signing Itakura and also backed up the details of the centre-back’s release clause.

He further added that the Bundesliga club are now working to tie the former Schalke star to a new deal as they do not want to lose such a key player to the Premier League.

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If Gladbach are unsuccessful in tying Itakura to a new deal, they might be tempted to sell the centre-back before the end of the current transfer window.

Knowing that they would lose him for a cut-price fee in the summer owing to the release clause, they might not be able to turn down an offer of £20m for the 26-year-old this month.

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