Tottenham loaned player to Borussia Monchengladbach in January.
In the winter transfer window, Tottenham Hotspur made two key signings, bringing in Conor Gallagher and Souza to strengthen a squad affected by injuries. Along with these additions, they also loaned out several young players.
Many academy players were recalled from their loans and then quickly sent back out. Jamie Donley had his loan at Stoke City ended before moving to Oxford United for the remainder of the season. Alfie Dorrington was called back after struggling to get playing time at Aberdeen, then moved to Salford City in League Two. Another young player who departed Spurs in January was Kota Takai.
Kota Takai was one of seven players who joined Tottenham during the summer transfer window. He arrived from Kawasaki Frontale for £5 million, a record for the J-League. Unfortunately, his early time at Spurs was affected by injuries. Takai faced plantar fasciitis shortly after his signing and later suffered a thigh injury in training, preventing him from making his debut under coach Thomas Frank.
Borussia Monchengladbach plans to extend Kota Takai’s loan
After fully recovering in December, Kota Takai was loaned to Borussia Mönchengladbach until the end of the season. The 21-year-old has already played five games in the Bundesliga, starting and finishing the last two matches under coach Eugen Polanski.
The Japanese centre-back has quickly adapted to life at Borussia Monchengladbach and has shown good technical skills, game awareness, and a strong work ethic. According to a report from Rheinische Post, the club is already considering Takai’s long-term future, recognizing his potential despite a costly error in their 3-0 loss to Eintracht Frankfurt last weekend.
Gladbach is not solely focusing on that one game, and overall opinions about Takai have been positive. Since he joined on a dry loan, there is no obligation to buy him immediately. A permanent transfer after this season seems unlikely, but Gladbach is exploring creative options to keep Takai beyond this campaign.
Tottenham to assess Takai’s future post-season
Takai’s start at Tottenham was unfortunate due to injury, which sidelined him for several months, preventing any senior appearances. Once he returned, he did not see much action under Frank, prompting his loan for more game time and development.
The 21-year-old has been performing well at Gladbach, aside from his mistake in the loss to Frankfurt. Tottenham plans to evaluate Takai’s performances until the end of the season before deciding his future, possibly waiting for a new permanent manager to assess him.
Gladbach looking to extend the center-back’s loan reflects the positive impression he has made at Borussia-Park, which should be viewed favorably at Tottenham’s offices.