Ko Itakura (28) is nearing the exit door at Borussia Mönchengladbach as Ajax pursue a transfer of the Japanese defender but the Bundesliga club are standing firm on their valuation of the player.
According to Florian Plettenberg, die Fohlen demand at least €10m plus bonuses for Itakura, who featured in 31 of 34 Bundesliga games last season. The Japanese international has already agreed a four-year contract with an option for a fifth year with Ajax, where he is expected to earn between €2m and €3m per year, but the two clubs are yet to find an agreement.
After the departure of Tuta to Qatari side Al-Duhail SC, Eintracht Frankfurt had shown an interest in hijacking Ajax’s transfer of Itakura, but have since turned their attention toward Auxerre’s Clément Akpa. Plettenberg also reports that Fiorentina and Feyenoord have submitted offers for the defender.
Itakura has been the No. 1 candidate to leave Gladbach this summer after deciding against a contract extension beyond 2026 and it would now appear that the player’s departure is edging nearer.
GGFN | Daniel Pinder
