Tottenham Hotspur have struck a transfer agreement with Kawasaki Frontale to sign defender Kota Takai in a record-breaking £5million deal, according to reports. Spurs are edger closer to making the 20-year-old centre-back the most expensive Japanese player from the J1 League in history.

Thomas Frank is moulding his squad ahead of his first season as the club’s head coach following their decision to sack Ange Postecoglou earlier this summer. And Spurs have moved to bolster their defensive options with Takai, who has been in Frontale’s ranks since joining the youth set-up in 2011.

According to talkSPORT, the four-cap Japan international will become part of Frank’s first team once he completes his switch to North London.

Since making his Frontale debut in 2022, Takai has played 78 times, scoring four goals, and lifted the Japanese Super Cup last year.

He was also voted as the J.League’s Best Young Player in 2024 and now looks set to land in the Premier League.

Takai would be Tottenham’s fourth permanent addition of the summer transfer window so far.

Fellow defender Kevin Danso has completed a £21m move to Spurs after spending last season on loan from Lens.

Mathys Tel has also joined permanently for £30m from Bayern Munich, despite an expensive but unremarkable loan stint last term.

On July 1, 18-year-old Croatian goalkeeper Luka Vuskovic will arrive from Hadjuk Split. Beyond Takai, more activity is expected.

Takai joins a centre-back regiment featuring Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Radu Dragusin, Ben Davies and Danso.

Frank is reportedly also looking to strengthen his attack but seems to have missed out on Bryan Mbeumo to Manchester United.

The Red Devils have submitted an improved offer worth £60m for the Brentford forward, which should make a deal imminent.

TalkSPORT report that Spurs are now expected to shift their focus towards Crystal Palace attacking midfielder Eberechi Eze.

Eze is believed to have a £68m release clause in his Palace contract and was linked with a move to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last summer.

The England international could be keen to remain at Selhurst Park for another season, though, ahead of a historic Europa League campaign.

Eze scored one of the most famous goals in Palace’s history by netting the decider in their 1-0 FA Cup final victory against Manchester City.

Should Spurs trigger his release clause, it would leave the 26-year-old with a major decision to make.