Under the radar: Introducing Kota Takai - the centre-back made for Liverpool

It's a new era at Liverpool.

Well, technically FSG. Michael Edwards' return to work under Liverpool's owners as the CEO of football was the first step in creating a multi-club model at Anfield.

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In the year that has gone on, FSG have actively pursued options to purchase clubs. Bordeaux and Malaga have been explored. Anfield Watch understands other clubs in France are also under consideration.

In light of these changes, we have decided to start a new series looking at Edwards' potential first signings.

These are players who aren't necessarily ready to make the move to Anfield just yet but who could do so in the future.

The kind of players who are under the radar right now but are performing to really high standards and could become astute investments.

So, without further ado, let us introduce the first player in the series - Kota Takai.

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Ian Graham in his book How to Win the Premier League lamented about not pushing harder for Liverpool to sign Kaoru Mitoma, who was excelling in the J.League at the time he scouted him.

Mitoma would of course end up going onto sign for Brighton before going on loan to Union SG and becoming a sensation in the Premier League after returning from the Belgian side.

He would have been a player Liverpool might have signed had they had a multi-club in place like Brighton.

The Mitoma ship might have sailed but there's a player in the J.League right now who is of similar ilk and who could be making waves in Europe soon.

Kota Takai is a 20-year-old centre-back who has plenty of experience under his belt already. He's played in the Olympics, the AFC Champions League final and is a senior Japanese international.

In total, he has made over 70 appearances already for Kawasaki Frontale - the same club Mitoma caught the eye for in Japan.

Recently, Takai came up against Al Nassr in the AFC Champions League Elite semi-final. Takai faced the likes of Sadio Mane, Jhon Duran and Cristiano Ronaldo in that game.

The Japanese international produced a defensive masterclass in the game.

Takai made nine clearances, eight interceptions, won three out of his four aerial duels and eight out of his 12 defensive duels in total to help his side cause an upset and reach the final of the competition - much to the dismay of Ronaldo.

In general, he's a really good defender who wins a high volume of his duels - exactly what Arne Slot asks for from his Liverpool centre-backs.

In total Takai averages 6.14 defensive duels and win 71.4% of them. He's also quick and his recovery speed is something that will attract him to European sides because it's tailor made for the modern game.

Takai averages close to 14 recoveries per 90 minutes for Kawasaki Frontale this season, which is an extraordinary high volume. His ability to cover a lot of ground on the right-side of defence makes him again an ideal candidate for Liverpool.

Crucially, he's relatively strong in the air as well, averaging a high volume of aerial duels (4.55 per 90) and winning 65%.

And he's seemingly a great character as well. Already this season, he has worn the captain's armband for Kasawaki Frontale, which is some achievement considering he is only 20-years-old.

Liverpool are of course in the market for a centre-back. Dean Huijsen and Marc Guehi are two of the strongest candidates in the Reds' pursuit.

It's interesting that SciSports lists both Guehi and Huijsen as players with a 99% similar playing style to Takai. Among the other players on the list is Liverpool's very own Virgil van Dijk.

This is why we think Takai is a player worth keeping an eye on. It feels like Edwards is getting closer and closer to putting this multi-club in place.

FSG didn't just hire him as well but Julian Ward came back to work in a capacity that would oversee multiple clubs. Pedro Marques was also hired.

With Laurie Shaw coming in from The City Group as well, there are enough key decision makers to ensure as son as FSG put the process in place to buy another club, there will be players to sign immediately.

Takai could easily fit the profile of what Edwards' men are looking for and it would not surprise us if he ended up being the first signing made under this new regime.

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