The ever-expanding Txiki merry go round has just sigjned Japanese under 20 defensive midfielder Ko Itakura, he has been immediately loaned to Groningen for 18 months.
Some might say it's a hopeful replacement for Fernandino long-term. A cynic might say it's a blatant attempt to increase influence/coverage in Japan.
Others might say it's simple economics/revenue - buy a player for 1M, sell for 10, as seems to have happened a lot recently
https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk ... a-15682412
Manchester City HAVE signed a defensive midfielder in the January window … but there is no immediate prospect of him joining their first team squad in the near future.
The Blues have picked up 21-year-old Ko Itakura from Japanese champions Kawasaki Frontale for a fee reported as being close to £1m, but he has been instantly loaned to Dutch club Groningen for 18 months.
He has been described as a central defender, Itakura has starred for Japan’s under-20 team as a holding midfielder and made all of his starts for Kawasaki as a central midfielder before being moved back into defence during his loan to their J1 League rivals Vegalta Sendai.
A Japan under-21 international, Itakura does not qualify for a UK work permit, but it is understood that he is viewed very much as a City Football Group signing.
If he excels in Eredivisie, he could earn a chance in Manchester but if not, he could play for New York City, Melbourne City or one of the Blues’ other sister clubs, including Japanese outfit Yokohama F. Marinos.
Itakura is pencilled in to make his debut for the strugglers – they have won four out of 17 games this season - against PSV Eindhoven on January 26.
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