Is it literally a chicken instead of a pheasant?

Florian Plettenberg of Sky Sports Germany said on the 23rd (Korean time) that "Kaoru Mitoma is open to a transfer to Bayern this summer," adding that "the club has already started conversations with Mitoma's side and has specifically expressed interest," while noting that "Director General Max Eberl has not yet sent an official offer." Mitoma is known to be one of the wingers Bayern Munich is considering, classified as a potential replacement for Kingsley Coman or Leroy Sané.

In fact, Bayern’s interest in Mitoma is not a recent development. Toby Altshäffl and Christian Falk of Bild have previously indicated in their podcast that "Bayern Munich has been consistently monitoring Brighton's Mitoma." Since moving from Japan's J League Kawasaki Frontale to Europe, Mitoma has established himself as a star in the Premier League with Brighton after a stint in Belgium.

Having made a strong impression with 7 goals and 5 assists in his first season in the Premier League, Mitoma is currently recording 10 goals and 3 assists in 35 matches (28 starts) this season. This marks the first time a Japanese player has scored double-digit goals in the Premier League. By achieving a record that eluded past players such as Shinji Okazaki and Shinji Kagawa, Mitoma has distinguished himself as a standout Japanese forward.

Son Heung-min is facing an alarm as his chances for a ninth consecutive season with double-digit goals are dwindling. At this point in the season, he remains at 7 goals in the league, which highlights Mitoma's scoring achievements even more. Given that Mitoma is experiencing a peak in form, Brighton is reportedly viewing this summer's transfer market as a potential selling window. Earlier, Saudi Arabia's Al Nassr approached Mitoma, but he rejected the offer, indicating his desire to remain in Europe.

Mitoma is maintaining a consistent performance this season. According to statistics from FotMob, a football analytics website, his average league rating is 7.11, the second highest on his team. His dribbling and ability to create space are evaluated to be among the top in the Premier League. Bayern Munich is positively assessing Mitoma's style, and within Bayern Munich, there are discussions about the potential departure of current wingers, with Sané and Coman being mentioned as possible candidates.

Bild reported, "Sané has rejected Bayern Munich's contract extension offer. Bayern Munich does not seem to intend to keep him, and he could enter the transfer market." Sané has recorded a solid performance with 11 goals and 5 assists in 29 Bundesliga matches this season, but he is also receiving criticism for inconsistent performance throughout the season.

In addition to Sané, Coman is also classified as a transfer candidate. Being with Munich since 2015, Coman is known as a "trophy specialist," having experienced championships in France, Italy, and Germany each season, but he has faced criticism for not having the impact expected of him. While his dribbling and speed are among the best in the league, his kick accuracy and finishing ability remain areas needing improvement.

Bayern Munich is considering rebuilding its attacking flanks, and consequently, Mitoma is regarded as a new piece of the puzzle. There is a compelling reason to push actively for Mitoma's acquisition: Bayern has almost given up on securing Florian Wirtz, the ace of Bayer Leverkusen, for whom they had previously invested significant effort.

Initially, Bayern aimed to acquire Wirtz, leading to the sale of players including Kim Min-jae. However, it has become known that Wirtz prefers a transfer to Liverpool over Bayern. Additionally, Leverkusen also favors an overseas transfer, and Liverpool is reportedly offering a higher transfer fee.

Ultimately, Bayern, which has aimed for Wirtz, is likely to pivot towards acquiring Mitoma. It will be interesting to see what outcomes emerge from Bayern's decision to hurriedly turn to Mitoma after missing out on Wirtz.

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