ANGE POSTECOGLOU may be known as a coach who favours an attacking, expansive style, but such a philosophy is easily exploited if not built upon a solid foundation.

Perhaps that is why Celtic’s new manager is looking to strengthen an area that was a real problem for Neil Lennon’s side last season as he targets his first signings since his arrival in Glasgow last week.

While Erik Svitachenko have been linked with a move back to his former club to add some experience to the backline, it may be that pacier centre-backs would better suit the attacking 4-3-3 system he favours, which relies on the full-backs pushing high up the pitch.

It is no surprise therefore to see the likes of Manchester City’s Ko Itakura and Hadjuk Split’s Mario Vuskovic being linked with moves to Celtic this week.

But who are the two defenders Postecoglou is looking to in order to fill the void created by the departing Kristoffer Ajer?

Ko Itakura

Itakura may only be 24, but he has plenty of experience playing in Europe under his belt already.

None of that has come at parent club Manchester City, mind you, who brought him to England from J-League side Kawasaki Frontale in 2019 but then immediately loaned him out to Eredivisie mid-table dwellers FC Groningen.

He made a huge impression on manager Dany Buijs, who loaned him back for last season and played him in every single minute of their league campaign, culminating in a seventh-placed finish. Bujis has already gone on record saying he would have had the Japanese international back to The Euroborg for a third season, and that he is heartbroken that it is unlikely to be the case.

The link to Celtic isn’t only borne of Postecoglou’s connections to Japan, but also his own ties – and Celtic’s – to the City Group, a profitable source of talent for the club in the past.

Itakura has been capped five times by Japan, and is noted for his pace, power and agility.

Mario Vuskovic

Croatian under-21 cap Vuskovic doesn’t quite have the experience of Itakura, but what he lacks in game-time, he more than makes up for in potential.

At just 19, Vuskovic has already gained a reputation at Hadjuk Split for no-nonsense defending, but that doesn’t mean he can’t play a bit too.

A sign of his technical proficiency is the fact that he is often trusted to take set-pieces for his club side, netting against NK Gorica from range in May, and scoring a penalty as recently as Tuesday night, in Hajduk’s friendly rout of Polish side Slask Wroclaw.

While well-timed tackling and a goal threat are welcome attributes for any central defender, it may again be the lightning pace of Vuskovic that most appeals to Postecoglou.

It appears that the 6’ 1’’ prospect very much fits the profile of player that Celtic should be looking to sign. He may cost around £4million, but they will be hoping to be able to move him on for much more than that after a year or two of contributing to their own cause on the field.

He also appears unlikely to allow speculation over his future to turn his head, as it did with so many of Celtic’s players last season, as he continues to focus on doing well for Hadjuk in spite of Celtic’s interest.

"I don't read about the speculation and it's my friends who tell me about it,” Vuskovic said recently. “It has been a great incentive for me and encouraged me to keep working hard.

"It's nice to hear that renowned foreign clubs want you, but I didn't bother with that

"I have learned a lot from my family. My dad is my biggest critic. He tells me to concentrate on my game and not allow myself to get carried away.

"When he criticises me, he criticises me as a coach, and when he praises me, he praises me as a father. No matter how I play, he always finds a couple of bad things I did. But that is good, I know his criticisms are with good intentions."