Real Madrid, Manchester City, Arsenal ‘all interested in Brighton’s Kaoru Mitoma’
Arsenal, Manchester City, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich have reportedly expressed their curiosity in signing Brighton & Hove Albion winger Kaoru Mitoma.
The 25-year-old has elevated his sport to new heights below the tutelage of Roberto De Zerbi this season and has established himself as an integral member of the Seagulls facet who’re difficult for a top-six end in the Premier League.
Mitoma joined Brighton from Japanese outfit Kawasaki Frontale for slightly below £2m in August 2021, earlier than having fun with a profitable spell on mortgage with Belgian membership Union SG final season, scoring eight targets and offering 4 assists in 29 matches.
The Japan worldwide, who represented his nation on the 2022 World Cup, struggled to make his mark below former boss Graham Potter, however he has since featured closely below De Zerbi on the left facet of assault, notably benefitting from the January departure of Leandro Trossard to Arsenal.
Mitoma has contributed with eight targets and 6 assists in 26 appearances for the Seagulls throughout all competitions to date this season, together with six targets in the Premier League, and he is only one strike away from breaking a Japanese top-flight scoring file.
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Arsenal are understood to have held an curiosity in Mitoma since January, however TEAMtalk claims that they now face competitors from Man City, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, who’re all keepings tabs on his progress forward of the 2023-24 marketing campaign.
Brighton are eager to maintain maintain of their star winger, with the report including that they’re getting ready to supply him a brand new club-record contract to fend off curiosity from potential suitors.
Mitoma is below contract on the Amex Stadium till the summer season of 2025 and his present wage is believed to be one of many lowest on the membership.
Nevertheless, the Seagulls are allegedly able to make the winger their highest-paid participant as a reward for his sensational type this season.
De Zerbi not too long ago labelled Mitoma a “essential” member of his first-team squad, and believes each the winger and Brighton will profit if he stays on the membership subsequent season.
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Chatting with Brighton’s official web site final week, the Italian boss stated: “Mitoma is a vital a part of the crew for us as a result of one-against-one in the final 25 metres, he is one of the necessary gamers.
“For him it is the primary 12 months in the Premier League, it is necessary for us, but additionally for him it is necessary for him to play one other 12 months with us.
“We do not have time to discuss the switch market as a result of we have now one other three months to play and for us to succeed in our targets.”
Brighton have already tied down three first-team gamers to new contracts this month, with Solly March most not too long ago penning contemporary phrases after midfield duo Adam Lallana and Moises Caicedo.
Caicedo allegedly stays a goal for Arsenal, although, with Mikel Arteta‘s facet contemplating a summer season method for the 21-year-old midfielder after seeing two big-money bids knocked again in January.
