It’s the first confirmed transfer in Tottenham Hotspur’s Deadline Day! As reported yesterday
, Japan international Kota Takai is headed to Belgium on loan:It’s a bit of a step down for Takai, who has struggled since his transfer to Spurs. Injury issues hampered his settling in England, before a loan to Borussia Monchengladbach
didn’t exactly go the way he would have hoped, with Takai only making 8 appearances at the Bundesliga club.
He would have hoped to have a strong preseason in order to secure a loan of similar status, if not to play himself into Roberto De Zerbi’s plans; but instead some mixed outings combined with new defensive signings and strong showings from some of Spurs’ academy (such as Malachi Hardy) has meant Takai has had limited suitors.
With that in mind, this loan isn’t the worst. It should at the very least mean consistent minutes, which Takai desperately needs if he’s to achieve any success in Europe, let alone at Spurs. That, combined with the fact that there is a strong Japanese presence at Sint-Truidense, means this move is nothing to sniff at.
Good luck, Kota! We’re rooting for you.
