Manchester City defender Ko Itakura is reportedly a target for Celtic FC this summer. The 21-year-old has been on the radar of several European clubs — the media in Scotland believe Celtic are still on his trail.
The Japanese defender was in demand as Ange Postecoglou first took the Celtic squad. The scouting department had the defender on their radar long before the Australian took charge at Celtic Park.
Celtic’s push for Ko last season was real and the club wanted it to happen with Ange’s blessing. It never worked out and Celtic would go on to sign Cameron Carter-Vickers on-loan from Spurs — a deal many are grateful happened instead of Itakura.
Now Ko is back at City — there has been a media led revival of Celtic’s apparent interest in the defender.
Let’s analyse things and remove fact from fiction.
Many media outlets have reported on Itakura’s latest comments on his future where he reveals he’s happy with the transfer talk surrounding him. Many publications have put the story out as Ko responds to Celtic speculation.
In reality — the Man City player didn’t mention Celtic and was very general in terms of interest in him — see comments below:
“I’m very happy to hear that story because I’ve seen it in the news,” he told Manchester Evening news.
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“Firstly, I want to go where I am needed. I haven’t decided on a team yet, no. I want to help myself by taking for myself before I decide to go.”
Now, it would be easier for us as a site to report those comments like the mainstream media have and attach them to Celtic. We believe that would be misrepresenting the quotes and misleading our readers. We love a transfer rumour, we love speculation and the debate around it. However — we will always prefix these stories with how solid the source is.
Right now — there has been no solid reporting or evidence to support Celtic are still in the market for Ko. His departure from Schalke and the German club not taking up their option to buy means the media have run with last summer’s interest.
Does that mean it won’t happen?
No! It could still very well happen at some point down the line this summer. Celtic don;’t work from a list of one in every position and make sure they have an array of targets to chase after in any given window.
But there’s nothing to suggest it’s something Celtic are pressing on with at the moment.
The Hoops do want to see CCV back in the Hoops next season but that’s still up in the air at this point.
Transfer stories are coming thick and fast now — a lot of agents are trying to earn their clients moves and drum up business. Not everything you hear will be true — but some of it will certainly be. Just because Celtic don’t bring in a player they were linked with doesn’t mean an interest was never there.
It’s going to be a long summer when it comes to transfer speculation given Celtic don’t have any competitive matches until the end of July. We’ll do our best to keep you right throughout the summer.
