FC Groningen is not sitting still after the sensational return of Arjen Robben. Mark-Jan Fledderus, technical director of the northerners, is approaching an agreement with Manchester City over Ko Itakura.
When the last folds are ironed out, Groningen hires the central defender from Japan for the third consecutive season from Manchester City. Fledderus confirms this to RTV Noord. “We are close to an agreement with Manchester City,” he said. “I expect we will get clear in the coming weeks, but it looks good.”
Itakura was a fixture in the Groningen defense last season. His return is not yet a done deal, Fledderus emphasizes. “It’s not finished yet, but I have a good feeling about it. Now it is mainly about whether Ko wants to play for another year at FC Groningen. But if that was not the case, we were of course not the talks started. Just another club can inquire. “
A definitive takeover of Itakura is not a feasible map for Groningen, as a result of which Fledderus is aiming for a new rental deal. “If City sells him afterwards, we can get a reward if he performs well with us.”
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