Japanese flanker and midfielder Kaoru Mitoma (Brighton & Hove Albion) had a breakout season in the English Premier League (PL) last season. With seven goals and five assists in 33 league games, the Japanese attacker dispelled the myth that it’s hard to succeed in the PL.
At one point, there was even speculation that he could break Son Heung-min’s (Tottenham Hotspur) scoring record, but that was a long shot. Heung-min has shown that he can play through pain and still reach double digits.
Still, Mitoma’s performances were impressive, especially in the run-up to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where he was on the rise and at the center of a Brighton surge. Even in the midst of the January winter transfer window, which saw the departure of Leandro Trosar to Arsenal and the arrival of Moises Caicedo, he held his own.
As a result, Brighton finished sixth and qualified for the Europa League (UEL) for the first time in the club’s history. His performance was no slouch, even when compared to the likes of Solly March and Adam Lallana.
One of Mitoma’s strengths is his dribbling. It was impressive to see him use his modest height of 178 cm to duck down and dribble from the flanks back into the center, fooling opposing defenders. Japanese media have raised expectations, saying that he has the potential to be even more successful than Shinji Kagawa, who has experience at Manchester United.
Mitoma’s unmistakable attributes seem to have caught the eye of Manchester City. The Express and the Manchester Evening News, both of which are based in Manchester, both reported that City are looking for a replacement for Riyaz Mahrez, who left for Al Ahli (Saudi Arabia). Mitoma is being considered alongside Michael Oliseh (Crystal Palace)”.
Mitoma seems to be more likely to sign than Oliseh given the circumstances. Oliseh is a favorite to join Chelsea. City, who toured Japan in the preseason, may be more interested in Mitoma, who has the skills and marketability.
Brighton have reportedly set a transfer fee of £50 million for Mitoma for now. The message is clear: if you want him, spend the money and get him. Interestingly, Mitoma’s price tag has slowly risen over the course of the season.
The £35 million mark was the high point set by Brighton. Arsenal have been rumored to be interested, but they don’t need him at this point. Rather, the price tag has jumped to £50 million as Man City have shown interest in Mitoma.
Mitomada joined Brighton in August 2021 from Kawasaki Frontale for a fee of £2 million. In just two years, he has multiplied his value by a whopping 25 times to interest from Man City.
Roberto De Zerbi has ruled out any immediate moves for Mitomada ahead of the start of the season. That’s because he’s under contract until August 2025, and the loss of a first-team regular could potentially derail his plans for the season. “Right now, he’s not going anywhere,” De Jervi emphasized.
However, the situation is complicated. There’s a £100 million transfer window for Kaysedou, who has been lobbying for a move to Chelsea. Brighton are in talks to sign Mohamed Koudouz (Ajax). City and Pep Guardiola tried out Mahrez’s replacement in Cole Palmer in the Community Shield, but he failed to inspire confidence.
The Seagulls have an attacking line with personality in Jeling Holland, Jack Grealish, and Bernard Silva, but they’re not exactly dribblers. Mitoma’s ability to dribble into the opposition’s space could add a lot of attacking variety.스포츠토토
For City, who have plenty of money to spend on players, the question is how genuine their interest in Mitoma is. The existence of a buyout is a question mark, but Brighton’s asking price is not out of reach for City. It’s an interesting summer for Mitoma.