Mitooma Kaoru (28, Brighton) has taken a step closer to transferring to Germany's traditional powerhouse Bayern Munich.
Bayern Munich has contacted Mitooma's agent to discuss transfer options, and local reports indicate that the player himself is positively considering a move to Munich. As Bayern Munich begins to actively restructure its attacking lineup, Mitooma has emerged as a key candidate for the new season.
Florian Plettenberg of Sky Sports Germany noted on the 23rd (Korea time) that “Mitooma has expressed that he is open to donning a Munich jersey in the summer transfer market,” adding that “there has already been contact between the club and the agent, and Bayern Munich internally regards him as a viable target.”
He further added that “while no official offer has been made yet, he is being evaluated as a resource that could fill the void left by Kingsley Coman or Leroy Sané.”
Mitooma has long been on Bayern Munich's radar. Toby Altchepfl and Christian Falk of BILD mentioned on the podcast 'Insider Bayern' that “Munich has been closely watching Mitooma, who is active at Brighton, for a long time.”
Mitooma, who advanced to the European stage from Japan's J-League Kawasaki Frontale, settled into the Premier League after a loan period in Belgium. He quickly adapted to the league, scoring 7 goals and providing 5 assists in his first full-time season at Brighton. This season, he has participated in 35 Premier League matches (28 as a starter), scoring 10 goals and providing 3 assists. He has also acquired the title of being the first player of Japanese descent to score double digits in a regular league in Premier League history.
This contrasts sharply with Son Heung-min (Tottenham). This season, Son Heung-min has only managed 7 goals in the league until late in the season, putting his streak of scoring double digits for nine consecutive years in jeopardy. As a result, Mitooma's scoring prowess is becoming more prominent among Asian fans, and a shift in the status between Son Heung-min and Mitooma seems to be emerging.
Brighton appears to have judged that the timing for a transfer is optimal as Mitooma's value peaks. Last summer, Saudi Arabia's Al-Nassr made a substantial offer, but Mitooma insisted on remaining in the European stage and rejected the proposal.
His performance is also stable. The average rating generated by the football statistics site 'FotMob' for this season is 7.11, the second highest on the team. His ability to penetrate from the flank and his one-on-one breakthrough capability in tight spaces are rated among the league's top levels. He is also showing consistent growth in his decisiveness, making him a fitting option for reinforcing Bayern's squad.
Bayern Munich is currently at a point where it must make a decision regarding the future of its wingers. Particularly, the futures of Leroy Sané and Kingsley Coman are uncertain. BILD reported that “Sané has rejected Bayern Munich's contract extension offer. Bayern Munich is also willing to sell him in the summer transfer market.” Sané has scored 11 goals and provided 5 assists in 29 Bundesliga matches this season, but there are analyses that his performance has fluctuated and has not met expectations for the entire season.
Coman's situation is not much different. A 'championship expert' who has been with Bayern Munich since 2015, winning several trophies in league and cup competitions, he is noted for his dribbling and speed, but his kicking accuracy and decisiveness are still viewed as areas needing improvement. Bayern Munich is considering putting Sané and Coman on the transfer market, taking into account their salaries and performance, and is looking at Mitooma as a potential replacement.
Meanwhile, with Kim Min-jae's potential transfer being discussed this summer, Munich is likely to overall change in the Asian market and player composition. This could mean that acquiring Mitooma may not simply be about reinforcing the squad but may also factor in marketing and expanding the fan base.
On the other hand, Son Heung-min, who had been rumored to transfer to Bayern Munich, seems to have effectively been pushed out of contention with Mitooma's addition. At one point, rumors about a transfer emerged due to his synergy with Kane and ability to play multiple positions, but Bayern Munich is currently shifting towards preferring younger and more active resources.
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