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Koji Watanabe/Getty Images Tottenham Hotspur defensive prospect Kota Takai could leave north London on loan this summer, with several suitors in the queue to secure the defender. The 21-year-old joined Spurs last summer but did not make a single appearance, having spent the first half of the season mostly sidelined by injury. The Japanese subsequently spent the second half of last season on loan with Borussia Monchengladbach, aiming for regular game time in the Bundesliga. However, his spell with the Bundesliga outfit failed to provide the consistent run he had hoped for, with recurring injuries also disrupting his time in Germany as Takai managed just 339 minutes across eight appearances. Early on in the loan, Gladbach were so impressed though that they kicked off fresh talks with Tottenham to try to keep Takai for longer. The centre-back featured in Roberto De Zerbi’s pre-season plans and played in several friendlies, but was left out of the squad for the opening Premier League fixture. Now, according to Japanese journalist Kazu Kakiuchi, Takai is ‘looking for a loan move’ before the window closes in search of regular football. | Manager | Time at Club | |---|---| | Roberto De Zerbi | March 2026 – present | | Igor Tudor | February 2026 – March 2026 | | Thomas Frank | June 2025 – February 2026 | | Ange Postecoglou | July 2023 – June 2025 | | Antonio Conte | November 2021 – March 2023 | Interest is already beginning to form around the defender, with several Serie A sides and other suitors ‘monitoring the situation’. Whether Spurs would sanction a loan with an option to buy attached or prefer a straight loan is open to debate, but a straight loan would likely make the most sense for the north London side. Takai still has four years left on his contract in N17, but his wait for an official appearance in Spurs colours looks set to continue as his future takes shape. The Japanese defender would not be the only centre-back prospect to leave north London without a first-team appearance to his name this summer, with Luka Vuskovic also making a permanent switch to Brighton. Another centre-back youngster, Ashley Phillips, has also moved on to Middlesbrough, with Tottenham retaining a sell-on clause and matching rights to preserve a degree of control over his future.