Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou signed a number of Japanese players when he was at Celtic.

Now he appears set to repeat the trick with the North London club this summer.

Per Walfoot, the Premier League giants are pursuing an interest in Union Saint-Gilloise defender Koki Machida.

While he would prefer to play in Germany, a Premier League move is very appealing.

He was asked about his future in an interview earlier this season, to which he replied: "Serie A is one of the best championships in the world. But Japanese players have played little there. There was Keisuke Honda, now Daichi Kamada. It doesn't work very well for the Japanese.

“Italian clubs are also interested in me, I know, but to choose, I would prefer the Bundesliga, which is successful for the Japanese," continues Koki Machida. "I don't really know why Serie A doesn't suit us. Too tactical, too defensive, maybe."