Sport1 reports Ajax are interested in VfB Stuttgart centre-back Hiroki Ito.
Former Stuttgart sporting director Sven Mislintat is working on the deal for the 24-year-old, who he signed from Japanese side Júbilo Iwata initially on loan in 2021 before making the move permanent last summer. Ito’s current contract at Stuttgart runs until 2025 and he will likely cost around €15m.
Ajax are likely looking for a replacement for Calvin Bassey who after one year at the club has moved to Fulham for €22.5m.
Last season, Ito played 37 times for Stuttgart as they reached the DFB-Pokal semi-finals but were unable to escape the relegation playoff where they beat Hamburg 6-1 on aggregate to stay in the Bundesliga.
If Ito does leave then Stuttgart will be forced into the market for another centre-back as the Japanese international will likely follow Konstantinos Mavropanos out of the door this summer as the 25-year-old wants to leave the club this summer and take the next step in his career.
GGFN | Jack Meenan