---
title: "Celtic: Hoops could revive Ko Itakura interest"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/celtic-could-revive-ko-itakura-transfer-interest/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Charlie Smith"
section: "Celtic News"
published: "2022-02-24T16:04:05Z"
modified: "2022-02-24T16:04:05Z"
---

# Celtic: Hoops could revive Ko Itakura interest

**Celtic could revive their interest in Ko Itakura, according to [The Daily Record](https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/ko-itakura-reveals-plan-celtic-26315341)’s Gavin Berry.**

### The Lowdown: Summer links with Celtic

The Hoops were after the Japanese defender in the summer, with Ange Postecoglou keen to take the 25-year-old on loan from Manchester City.

[Celtic updates!!](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/celtic-updates-22/)

Described as [‘incredibly fast’](https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-transfer-news/who-ko-itakura-celtic-target-24418392) by former Dutch footballer Haans Kray, Itakura ended up moving to Schalke 04 for the 2021/22 season and has made [21](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ko-itakura/leistungsdaten/spieler/355816) appearances in Germany, scoring [twice](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ko-itakura/leistungsdaten/spieler/355816).

He appears to be at the top of his game, with a career-high £3.15m [Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ko-itakura/marktwertverlauf/spieler/355816) valuation, and he shares the same [agent](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/caa-base-ltd/beraterfirma/berater/674) as Hoops midfielder Matt O’Riley.

### The Latest: Postecoglou a big fan

As reported by [The Daily Record](https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/ko-itakura-reveals-plan-celtic-26315341), the Hoops could revive their interest in Itakura, with Postecoglou a big fan of the defender.

However, Schalke reportedly have an option to buy the Japan international for £3.7m in the summer if they win promotion to the Bundesliga, which remains a distinct possibility.

\[freshpress-quiz id=”383272″\]

### The Verdict: Carter-Vickers alternative?

Celtic currently have [five](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/celtic-glasgow/kader/verein/371) centre-backs on their books, one of which is Cameron Carter-Vickers. The USA international is on loan from Tottenham, with the Hoops having a [£6m](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11787/12508514/celtic-hope-to-seal-permanent-jota-and-cameron-carter-vickers-deals) option to make his move permanent next summer.

The 24-year-old has been a regular in Glasgow and is the squad’s best performers in terms of aerial duels won, clearances made and being dribbled past the least. \[[WhoScored](https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/103/Show/Scotland-Celtic)\]

It seems as if Postecoglou is well-stocked when it comes to centre-back options, but if the club don’t secure a permanent move for Carter-Vickers, then perhaps a possible swoop for Itakura could be a shrewd one.

***In other news: [Celtic chief makes 742-mile round scouting trip; journalist drops update on possible record move](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/celtic-news/celtic-dean-jones-makes-antoine-semenyo-claim/)***