The hectic excitement of the transfer window will be over soon, and clubs around the world are finalising last-minute deals and agreements.
There have been plenty of exciting transfers this year but, as with every window, some players haven’t made the big switch many expected them to. One of these is Japanese winger Kaoru Mitoma. Will he manage to get his big move next summer? Find out here.
Who is Kaoru Mitoma?
Karou Mitoma is a winger who currently plays for Brighton and the Japan national football team.
In 2021, Brighton signed Mitoma from Kawasaki Frontale on a four-year contract. He was initially sent out on loan to Belgian side Union SG, where he made 29 appearances, scoring eight goals and managing four assists.
He returned to Brighton for the 2022/23 season, making his debut in a 0 – 0 stalemate against Newcastle. Since then, Mitoma has become an integral part of Brighton’s attacking frontline. He assisted in the Seagulls’ famous 4 – 1 rout of Chelsea, scored and assisted as they overcame Wolves at Molineux, and scored in Brighton’s 3 – 1 defeat of Arsenal.
Mitoma has also featured for the Japan national team. He played in the 2022 FIFA World Cup, assisting the goal that saw Japan secure a famous victory over Spain and progress to the round of 16.
Mitoma is famed for his pace and dribbling ability. He can beat and turn defenders with ease and also has a keen eye for a pass with fantastic positional awareness. It’s no surprise that he is being monitored by a number of big clubs, but so far he hasn’t managed to secure a bigger move.
Who is Interested in Mitoma?
Scouting and recruitment is perhaps the most important part of football. Without the right players, managers will not be able to implement their gameplay and will quickly find themselves in a relegation battle.
The world’s best clubs have fantastic scouting networks and effective recruitment policies. This is what makes them so successful and so popular among supporters and online betting fans alike.
Few clubs exemplify this attribute quite like Manchester City, and it just so happens that City have expressed a serious interest in Mitoma.
Despite winning a historic treble last season, Man City will not be looking to rest on their laurels and have purchased Gvardiol and Kovacic to strengthen the defence and midfield ahead of the new season.
City will also be looking to bolster the attack, and Mitoma looks like he could fit perfectly into Pep Guardiola’s system. The winger could form a formidable partnership with the goal-scoring machine that is Erling Haaland.
Will Brighton Sell Mitoma?
While Manchester City may be interested in Mitoma, are Brighton actually willing to sell him? The Seagulls have just accepted a record-breaking £110 million offer from Liverpool for midfielder Moises Caciedo, with reports that Chelsea could be looking to hijack the deal and stump up even more cash.
While this is a lot of cash for Brighton, they are still losing one of their best players. The financial significance of the deal may mean that Brighton’s outgoings are finished for the summer, and they will certainly not be keen to lose another influential player such as Mitoma.
Conclusion
Mitoma was one of the most exciting players in the Premier League last season, and his electric performances caught the eye of a number of big clubs. However, Brighton are in no rush to sell, the Caciedo transfer will mean they can now settle and reinvest for the season ahead. While Mitoma may not get his big move this summer, he’ll certainly have plenty of offers when next season’s transfer window opens.
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