Liverpool are scouting Borussia Monchengladbach defender Ko Itakura to bolster their injury-riddled defence in the upcoming transfer window

Liverpool have sent scouts to monitor Borussia Monchengladbach defender Ko Itakura as they seek defensive recruitment in the January window. The Reds lost Joel Matip to a season-ending injury as the 32-year-old’s contract expires at the end of the season.

Liverpool currently have captain Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Jarell Quansah and Joe Gomez as their central defensive options. A long-term injury to Kostas Tsimikas left a gaping hole at left-back with Andy Robertson set to return in January.

Gomez has displayed his versatility by filling up the gaps but Liverpool needs options as they face a congested fixture. Liverpool are at the top of the Premier League and progressed further in the Europa Cup and the Carabao Cup.

Competing for all the trophies requires depth in the squad as the squad rotation keeps the players fresh and injury-free. Konate and Gomez are both strong defenders but their injury record makes them unreliable in the long run.

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano used his X account to claim that Liverpool have scouted Itakura multiple times this season. Tottenham Hotspur have also expressed interest in the Japanese defender, considering their own injury concerns, as reported by Romano.

Standing at 1.88 metres, Itakura is formidable in the aerial duels during both the offensive and defensive phases. The 26-year-old uses good anticipation, leap and bravery to be a threat during the set-piece situations for Monchengladbach.

The Japan international has appeared in eight matches in all competitions, contributing with two goals this season. Itakura suffered an ankle injury that has forced him to miss many games this season despite being a regular starter.

The 26-year-old is versatile enough to play as both a left and right central defender and as a defensive midfielder. His incredible stamina and ability to cover the ground while working hard for his team have earned Itakura considerable praise.

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Furthermore, he has a highly successful passing rate and uses good decision-making on possession, distributing to the more creative players. The 26-year-old has an issue with being reckless and too aggressive at times, frequently getting yellow cards.

Liverpool need recruitment in their defence to bolster their Premier League title hopes while also challenging for other trophies. Itakura could be a good addition but his issues with discipline and error-proneness cast a big doubt.