Kaoru Mitoma (28, Brighton) is increasingly likely to wear a Bayern Munich uniform. Bayern Munich has already met with his agent to exchange opinions, and Mitoma is said to have conveyed a positive stance regarding the transfer. With Bayern Munich's restructuring efforts gaining momentum, Mitoma's acquisition is evolving from mere interest into a real scenario.
Florian Plettenberg of Sky Sports Germany reported on the 23rd (Korean time) that “Mitoma is open to transferring to Bayern this summer,” noting that “the club has already begun dialogue with Mitoma's side and has specifically expressed interest.”
He added that “Director General Max Eberl has not yet sent an official offer.” Mitoma is currently one of the wingers being considered by Bayern Munich and is classified as a possible substitute for Kingsley Coman or Leroy Sane.
In fact, Bayern's interest in Mitoma is not a recent development. Toby Altshäffl and Christian Falk of Bild revealed through their podcast that “Bayern Munich has been continuously monitoring Brighton's Mitoma.”
Mitoma has established himself as a key player in the Premier League with Brighton after moving to Europe via Kawasaki Frontale in Japan's J League and Belgium.
Having left a strong impression by scoring 7 goals and making 5 assists in his first season in the Premier League, Mitoma has recorded 10 goals and 3 assists in 35 matches (28 starts) this season. This marks the first time a Japanese player has scored double digits in the Premier League. Achieving a record that past players like Shinji Okazaki and Shinji Kagawa were unable to reach, Mitoma stands out as a remarkable achievement among Japanese attackers.
Son Heung-min's signal for achieving double-digit goals for nine consecutive seasons is in jeopardy. As the season approaches its end, he remains at 7 league goals, highlighting Mitoma's scoring achievements. Brighton is reportedly viewing this summer transfer market as an opportunity to sell since Mitoma is in peak form. Previously, Al Nassr from Saudi Arabia approached Mitoma, but the player himself rejected it, indicating his desire to remain in Europe.
Mitoma has maintained consistent performances this season. According to statistics site FotMob, his average rating in the league is 7.11, the second highest in the team. He is rated among the top in the Premier League for his dribbling and space creation abilities.
Bayern Munich positively evaluates Mitoma's style, and the possible exits of existing wingers are being discussed internally, including Sane and Coman.
Bild reported that “Sane rejected a contract renewal offer from Bayern Munich. It seems Bayern Munich does not intend to keep him, which may lead him to the transfer market.” Sane has recorded 11 goals and 5 assists in 29 Bundesliga matches this season, achieving solid results but has also faced criticism for inconsistencies in performance throughout the season.
Along with Sane, Coman is also classified as a transfer candidate. Having been with Bayern since 2015, Coman is known as a 'winning specialist' with experiences of championships in leagues in France, Italy, and Germany each season, but has faced criticism for his lower influence than expected. While his dribbling and speed are among the best in the league, his kick accuracy and finishing remain work-in-progress.
Bayern Munich is considering a rebuild of its attacking wing, and as such, Mitoma is being contemplated as a new puzzle piece. Furthermore, with Kim Min-jae also possibly leaving the team, changes in the composition of Asian players are anticipated.
If Mitoma ends up wearing Bayern Munich's new uniform, Son Heung-min's scenario of transferring to Bayern Munich will likely disappear.
[OSEN]