German side Schalke will only be able to sign defender Ko Itakura from Manchester City this summer if they are promoted back to the Bundesliga.
That’s according to SportBILD, who say the €4m purchase option on the Japan international comes with that stipulation as part of it.
Itakura is currently on loan with the 2.Bundesliga side, having joined them in the summer when it was again made clear he was not a part of Manchester City’s plans.
He’s been with Pep Guardiola’s side since joining from Kawasaki Frontale in 2019 but is yet to appear for them, instead spending two years on loan with Groningen and now Schalke this season.
As in the Netherlands, he’s proven to be a big hit with the German side, establishing himself in the heart of their defence as a key player.
He’s made it clear that he would be happy to stay long-term but has no plans to spend an extended spell in the German second division either.
And it now seems his stay there is entirely dependent on promotion, with SportBILD looking at the situation at the club.
They say that while Itakure has played ‘a good season,’ he can ‘only be held’ in the event of promotion back to the Bundesliga.
According to the newspaper, Schalke’s loan deal with Manchester City includes a €4m purchase clause, but the German side ‘can only exercise’ that option ‘if they are promoted’.
In other words, if Schalke don’t get themselves back up, they’ll either have to renegotiate with City or those in charge at the Etihad will be free to shop Itakura around and potentially get a better offer than the €4m they’ll get from this clause.
It all remains to be seen, of course, but it’s a situation to keep an eye on moving forwards, particularly if Schalke cannot get the promotion they desperately need.
