Football transfers: Gamba Osaka targets Juanpe; Ko Itakura nears Mönchengladbach return

Several significant football transfer developments are underway involving Japanese players and European clubs.

In Japan, J1 club Gamba Osaka is nearing a deal to sign 30-year-old Spanish midfielder Juan Pedro Jimenez (known as Juanpe) from Malaga. Jimenez is expected to travel to Japan for a medical checkup this week. The deal reportedly involves a salary offer of approximately 1 million euros. Malaga is expected to facilitate the move as Jimenez seeks to continue his career following recovery from a muscle injury.

In Europe, Japanese defender Ko Itakura is set to return to Borussia Mönchengladbach from Ajax. Following the sale of Nico Elvedi to Leeds, Mönchengladbach has identified Itakura as a top candidate to bolster their defense. The transfer fee is estimated at approximately 3.5 million euros, potentially reaching 4 million euros with bonuses. The move comes after a challenging period for Itakura at Ajax, where he faced limited playing time due to injuries and tactical decisions.