---
title: "Celtic: Hoops ‘monitoring’ Premier League pair"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/celtic-hoops-transfer-news-postecoglou-itakura-harwood-bellis/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Henry Jackson"
section: "Celtic News"
published: "2022-05-27T12:11:07Z"
modified: "2022-05-27T12:11:07Z"
---

# Celtic: Hoops ‘monitoring’ Premier League pair

**[Celtic](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/celtic-transfer-rumours/) are ‘monitoring’ Manchester City pair Ko Itakura and Taylor Harwood-Bellis, according to reliable journalist Anthony Joseph.**

### The Lowdown: Busy summer for Ange

The Hoops have completed a triumphant 2021/22 season, having won both the [Scottish Premiership](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/scottish-premiership-news/) and Scottish League Cup, with transfers now taking centre stage.

Ange Postecoglou will be eyeing up a host of names who he believes will make his squad more formidable, with a return to the Champions League on the horizon.

While established players need to come and enhance the options at Postecoglou’s disposal, it is also important that emerging talent is added.

[Key latest Celtic updates!](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/key-latest-celtic-updates-8/)

### The Latest: Ange ready to strike

According to Joseph on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/AnthonyRJoseph/status/1529464138807791619?s=20&t=QcdCJ6rPpwOjH3YOV7Wgeg), Celtic and Ange are keen on signing City pair Itakura and Harwood-Bellis this summer:

> “Celtic are monitoring Manchester City duo Ko Itakura and Taylor Harwood-Bellis.”

Itakura has spent the season on loan at Schalke, and is 25 years of age, while youngster Harwood-Bellis (20) has been at Stoke City on a temporary basis.

\[freshpress-quiz id=”389441″\]

### The Verdict: Planning for the future

Whether or not these would be permanent moves remains to be seen, but signing both players could prove to be shrewd business by Postecoglou.

Ikatura made [30 starts](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/369525/Show/Kou-Itakura) in the Bundesliga II in 2021/22, shining at centre-back, while fellow central defender Harwood-Bellis enjoyed [22 Championship starts](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/384061/Show/Taylor-Harwood-Bellis) for Stoke, averaging three aerial duel wins per game.

With Cameron Carter-Vickers and Carl Starfelt set to be first-choice next season, if the former signs permanently, these two could be strong backup options.

***In other news, Joseph has also dropped a Celtic transfer claim. Read more [here](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/celtic-news/celtic-anthony-joseph-drops-christopher-jullien-exit-claim-transfer-parkhead-spl/).***