---
title: "Celtic: Hoops were ’desperate’ to sign Ko Itakura"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/celtic-hoops-were-desperate-to-sign-ko-itakura/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Charlie Smith"
section: "Celtic News"
published: "2021-09-20T13:05:49Z"
modified: "2021-09-20T13:05:49Z"
---

# Celtic: Hoops were ’desperate’ to sign Ko Itakura

**Celtic were [‘desperate’](https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/sport/football/7723052/celtic-desperate-itakura-tracking-schalke/) to sign Manchester City defender Ko Itakura this summer, according to Schalke 04 sporting director Rouven Schroeder.**

### The Lowdown: Celtic’s defensive additions

The Hoops were extremely busy over the summer in the transfer market and managed to bring in [12](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/celtic-glasgow/transfers/verein/371) players. [Four](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/celtic-glasgow/transfers/verein/371) of those were centre-backs in Carl Starfelt, Camron Carter-Vickers, Liam Scales and Osaze Urhoghide.

They were also seemingly keen on Itakura, who shares the same agency as [Mikey Johnston](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/caa-base-ltd/beraterfirma/berater/674), but the Japanese defender moved to Germany instead.

[Celtic updates!](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/celtic-updates-13/)

### The Latest: Schroeder’s comments

Schalke secured Itakura’s services on loan and have the option to make a move permanent next summer for [£3.4m](https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/sport/football/7723052/celtic-desperate-itakura-tracking-schalke/).

Their sporting director Schroeder was talking to the media about the [6 foot 1](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ko-itakura/profil/spieler/355816) defender, as relayed by [The Scottish Sun](https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/sport/football/7723052/celtic-desperate-itakura-tracking-schalke/), and he said that the Hoops were ‘desperate’ to land the [Japan international](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ko-itakura/profil/spieler/355816), revealing:

> “It took a lot of patience to sign him from Manchester City.
>
> “For example, Celtic had tracked him for a year and were desperate to sign him, but we managed to beat them to it.”

\[freshpress-poll id=”374517″\]

### The Verdict: Ange wants more

Celtic may have missed a trick by missing out on Itakura, who 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.

Although Ange Postecoglou added four centre-backs to his ranks, it is believed that he wants [more](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/celtic-news/celtic-postecoglou-wants-more-centre-backs/) options in that department – not surprising given the defensive horror show against Real Betis last week.

That could have been Itakura, described as [‘incredibly fast’](https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-transfer-news/who-ko-itakura-celtic-target-24418392), if they had gotten their way, but the Hoops will now need to look elsewhere for centre-back reinforcements ahead of the winter transfer window.

***In other news: [Front runners: Celtic leading the way to land ‘brilliant’ free agent who Ange has spoken about.](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/celtic-transfer-rumours/celtic-robbie-brady-update-emerges/)***