Borussia Mönchengladbach hopeful of extending stay of Spurs loanee Kota Takai (21) | OneFootball

The Rheinische Post reports that Borussia Mönchengladbach would like to arrange a new loan deal for Tottenham Hotspur defender Kota Takai. The 21-year-old arrived on loan from the north London outfit last month and has already made five Bundesliga appearances. Takai has started and gone the full 90 minutes in his last two league appearances under BMG head coach Eugen Polanski.

Do Gladbach have a purchase option for Kota Takai?

Initially, most German media sources claimed that there was no purchase option inherent in Takai’s loan arrangement. Tottenham remain keen on retaining the €5m-valued centre-back. A foot injury precluded Takai from making any Spurs first team appearances this past autumn, but the EPL club has no intention of selling the player they paid €5.8m to acquire last summer. 

RP nevertheless reports that Gladbach do maintain a purchase option for the four-times-capped Japanese international. The fact that Takai’s price is reportedly in the high single digit millions still means that the German club will find themselves unable to afford him. A renewed loan out may work well for all parties involved. 

How has Takai been doing in the Bundesliga?

Takai’s Bundesliga appearances haven’t exactly been stellar. An egregious possession error in last weekend’s Bundesliga loss to Eintracht Frankfurt might see the youngster benched in the coming weeks. Kevin Diks’ return after a concussion-related injury probably means that Takai night be pushed out of the XI, whether Polanski opts for a back-three or back-four in upcoming matches. 

Gladbach must nonetheless rebuild their already thin central defensive corps this summer. Beyond Diks and Nico Elvedi (who is often linked with a move away from the club), the Niederrheiner have no use for Marvin Friedrich after the 30-year-old’s contract expires at the end of the current season. Attack-minded midfielder Philipp Sander has recently been filling in at the back to little avail. 

A new Takai loan could materialize.

GGFN | Peter Weis