Report claims that Celtic have lost out on top transfer target

Celtic have apparently missed out on their ‘top transfer target’ with Ko Itakura joining Borussia Moenchengladback instead. 

The ‘top target’ claim comes from the Scottish Daily Express despite securing Cameron Carter-Vickers as early as June 10. 

Itakura as a Japanese player within the City Football Group would have been of interest to Ange Postecoglou but having gone faithfully with Carter-Vickers and Carl Starfelt it was clear that the on loan Spurs defender was the player that the Celtic boss wanted to sign up. 

Having spent more than £10m on his central defensive partnership anyone else coming in to that position will be strictly back-up material which will come in at a lot less than the £5m price tag that Moenchengladbach have paid for Itakura. 

The Scottish Daily Express reports: 

Celtic have been dealt a blow in the transfer market with the news that top target Ko Itakura will not be coming to Glasgow. 

Ange Postecoglou was keen to expand his Japanese contingent of Kyogo Furuhashi, Daizen Maeda, Reo Hatate and Yosuke Ideguchi and there was hope last week when the deal to take the player from Premier League champions Man City to Borussia Moenchengladbach looked to have broken down. 

However, the German giants have come up with a deal thought to be around £5million with add-ons to snap up Itakura with the Japanese international signing a three-year deal with the Bundesliga side. Now Postecoglou will turn to other defensive targets. 

The Celtic boss is looking to strengthen the centre back area with Stephen Welsh and Dane Murray the only real cover from Cameron Carter-Vickers and Carl Starfelt. 

With Murray out injured Bosun Lawal is with the Celtic squad in Austria where they will play three matches as part of a 10 day training trip. On Wednesday Celtic play their first match of the season, facing regional league side Wiener Viktoria.