FC Groningen coach Dany Buijs has predicted on-loan Manchester City defender Ko Itakura will make a ‘very nice transfer’ this summer.
Itakura has been on loan with the Dutch side since January 2019, having initially joined Manchester City in a £990,000 deal from Kawasaki Frontale before moving to the Netherlands the following day.
He was a regular for them that year and has continued to be ever since, racking up 48 appearances in all competitions for them so far.
This year has been a particularly successful one for him, though, with him a mainstay of a Groningen team that currently sit sixth int eh table but just three points outside the top four.
Itakura has received particular focus for his performances, with him forming part of the best defence in the Eredivisie this season.
That has already sparked rumours about his future, with it reported back in December that Manchester City were ‘expected to sell’ this summer.
And that is certainly the view of FC Groningen coach Dany Buijs, who admits as much in an interview with Voetbal International, who say the defender is ‘being watched’ by clubs in the Bundesliga.
“We are very happy with Ko,” he said.
“He plays well and is also a top professional who makes every effort to become better every day.
“If you look at how he’s developing, we probably won’t manage another season.
“Because I would love to keep him for longer, I say it with some pain in my heart, but I think Ko will make a very nice transfer this summer.”
