Takai Heads Out on Loan as Spurs Repeat Bundesliga Blueprint

Tottenham have dispatched another of their summer recruits on a temporary move, opting once again for the Bundesliga as their preferred destination for development.

Centre-back Kota Takai, 20, has joined Borussia Mönchengladbach on loan after struggling to break into Spurs' first-team plans since arriving from Kawasaki Frontale in the off-season. The Japanese defender has already linked up with his new club during their winter training camp in Turkey.

Injuries have hampered Takai's hopes of immediate involvement at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, but even a clean bill of health would present significant obstacles. The established partnership of Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero remains formidable, and Radu Dragusin's return from the treatment table has further squeezed available opportunities.

Mönchengladbach's head of sports, Rouven Schroder, outlined his expectations for the new arrival: "Kota is a tall, physically strong centre-half who also has good pace. He's got what it takes to help us in the immediate future. We're delighted to welcome our new No.14."

The move mirrors the trajectory of fellow summer signing Luka Vuskovic, the 18-year-old Croatian centre-back currently impressing for Hamburg in the Bundesliga. Vuskovic has made 13 appearances for the club and has done enough to convince Spurs that he remains a long-term prospect worth monitoring. Mönchengladbach currently sit 12th in the German top flight, one place above Hamburg's position.

Vuskovic's father recently suggested his son could spend another campaign in Germany should his development continue apace, rather than rush into Premier League football. "Until June, he is definitely at HSV, and after that we will sit down with Tottenham and see what's best," he explained. "I would not like him to skip steps and go straight to the English Premier League, which I believe is the strongest in the world. There is still plenty of room for growth. As far as I'm concerned, it wouldn't be bad if he stayed in Germany."

The summer window saw Spurs bring in six permanent signings alongside two loan arrivals. Mohammed Kudus has settled well on the pitch, though Mathys Tel has found the going considerably tougher in North London. Takai's loan now represents the second of their permanent acquisitions to head out temporarily in search of regular football.