On-loan Liverpool player has just told Reds they fumbled another clear centre-back solution this summer - opinion
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Liverpool’s failure to get a deal over the line for Marc Guehi during the summer transfer window could yet come back to haunt them.The Reds pushed to bring the Crystal Palace captain to Anfield and even agreed a deal on transfer deadline day.However, Palace pulled the plug at the last minute, leaving Guehi to soldier on at Selhurst Park at least until the January window.While it was disappointing for Liverpool, they looked to have enough with four senior centre-backs in the squad. Photo by Jeroen van den Berg /Soccrates/Getty ImagesKo Itakura praised by James McConnell at AjaxLiverpool’s need for a new centre-back is not a new one.
Until Leoni was signed this summer, the last one the Reds bought was Konate back in 2021.There have been plenty of suggested targets in the meantime, with journalist Fabrizio Romano claiming that Japanese defender Ko Itakura was a serious option for Liverpool back in January 2024.READ MORE: Milos Kerkez backed for success at Liverpool thanks to one top attribute“Ko Itakura, one to watch in 2024 as top clubs are monitoring Japanese CB,” Romano said on New Year’s Day. “Understand Liverpool have sent their scouts multiple times to follow Itakura’s performances.”Ultimately, Itakura did not leave Borussia Monchengladbach until the summer of 2025, when he joined Ajax for only £11m.🇯🇵 Ko Itakura, one to watch in 2024 as top clubs are monitoring Japanese CB.Understand Liverpool have sent their scouts multiple times to follow Itakura’s performances.Tottenham also monitored him as Ange Postecoglou wanted Ko at Celtic.Release clause NOT valid in January. pic.twitter.com/E6Ce08dAd4— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 1, 2024 View Tweet There, he has linked up with on-loan Liverpool midfielder James McConnell, who has told Voetbal International that he has been pleasantly surprised by how good the Japan defender is.“Ko Itakura also caught my eye,” said McConnell when asked which of his new teammates have impressed him.
Very good on the ball, good at dribbling, but also strong in defence.”Itakura should have been on Liverpool’s listObviously, the signings of Itakura and Guehi would not have been equal. Itakura was clearly a player the Reds liked at one stage, and given his availability and the low-cost fee, he would have been a risk-free addition.Certainly, the former Borussia Monchengladbach player could have provided Slot with an alternative to the out-of-form Konate and the injury-prone Gomez.Itakura has already earned the approval of one Liverpool player this season, it is just a shame the recruitment team were not equally impressed.