Tottenham target €30m Bundesliga centre-back to replace Saudi-bound star

Stuttgart’s Hiroki Ito has been picked out as a prime defensive target for Tottenham

Stuttgart’s Hiroki Ito has been picked out as a prime defensive target for Tottenham

Tottenham are said to be closely monitoring VfB Stuttgart defender Hiroki Ito as Ange Postecoglou looks to his defence to help close the gap to the Premier League’s top three.

Postecoglou would recognise the need to tighten up at the back as Tottenham seek to close a roughly 40-goal gap to the Premier League’s title contenders on the evidence of last season.

Tottenham set to invest in top defender

Reports coming out of Germany suggest that Tottenham might consider meeting the Japan international’s release clause to spring him from his long-term contract at Stuttgart.

Ito extended his stay at Stuttgart in 2023 when it is believed a €30 million release clause was also added to his contract which Tottenham might view as something of a bargain.

The 25-year-old defender is left-footed and primarily plays as a centre-back but he can also deputise as a fullback giving Postecoglou much-needed defensive cover.

Tottenham were already looking a little thin at the back towards the end of the 2023/24 season and could be set to lose Emerson Royal to a mega-money deal from Cristiano Ronaldo’s Saudi side Al-Nassr.

Ito’s efforts in the Bundesliga have sparked increasing interest, after he played his part in helping Stuttgart finish as the runners-up in the league this past season.

Spurs are undoubtedly able to afford the stated asking amount, but whether they can close the transaction is still up in the air.