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Tottenham are about to sign a ‘very highly rated’ player, Johan Lange might have pulled off ‘bargain’ deal

Jamie Brown

Wed 25 June 2025 18:45, UK

Tottenham Hotspur have started making big moves in the summer transfer market with Thomas Frank now in place.

Mathys Tel was Tottenham’s first signing as the Frenchman was brought in permanently from Bayern Munich for £30 million.

Tottenham also want Eberechi Eze, and there is a belief at Tottenham that they are the Crystal Palace winger’s first-choice destination, as per TBR Football sources.

But, Spurs are close to making another addition for a player who is so highly rated, and there is a belief that they are getting a bargain.

Tottenham’s £5m deal for Kota Takai could be a ‘bargain’

Tottenham Hotspur’s £5m deal for Kota Takai could prove to be a ‘bargain’, according to Alasdair Gold.

The Spurs journalist claims that speaking to people who cover Japanese football, the defender is believed to be ‘very, very highly rated’.

Paying just £5 million for a player who is already a Japanese international, aged just 20, is seen as quite an impressive deal.

Gold told Gold & Guest Talk Tottenham: “He’s a guy that £5 million is going to look like a bargain, that’s my initial view on it. As it’s been pointed out to me, £5 million for an international player, who hasn’t even turned 21, is ridiculous.”

TBR Football understands that Tottenham beat strong competition to agree Takai deal, with Liverpool, Newcastle United, Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Bayern Munich having all watched him.

Thomas Frank greenlit Tottenham’s move for Takai, with Johan Lange being the man who identified the young player.

The Spurs sporting director believes that the defender is already well-equipped for Premier League football, and he is expected to be part of Frank’s squad next season.

Kota Takai could follow in the footsteps of Lucas Bergvall and Destiny Udogie

Spurs are confident that the 20-year-old can follow in the footsteps of Lucas Bergvall, Destiny Udogie and Pape Matar Sarr as investments who suddenly become key players.

“This is more a transfer in the ilk of the Bergvall, Sarr, Udogie, those kinds of ones, where the price was more ‘fair play’ kind of ones and the player was really highly regarded. He was the J-League Young Player of the Year last season, he’s a very, very highly rated player,” Gold added.

The North London club are starting to build a very strong core of young players in the capital, and the new Danish head coach has plenty to be excited about.

Bergvall, for £12 million, has proven to be an absolute steal as they managed to beat FC Barcelona to sign him back in February 2024.

Destiny Udogie and Pape Matar Sarr have also become regulars in the first team at Tottenham, having initially been signed as long-term investments.

Tel and Wilson Odobert are impressing for France U-21 at the European Championship right now and the young French duo look like very exciting talents.

Spurs will now be hoping that Takai can be the next young player to impress in Lilywhite as he looks set to arrive in N17 this summer.