Japanese winger Kaoru Mitoma (28, Brighton) is getting closer to a transfer to Bundesliga giant Bayern Munich. Bayern Munich has already begun contact with Mitoma's side, and the player is reportedly showing a positive attitude towards the transfer.
Sky Sports Germany's Florian Plettenberg noted on the 23rd (Korean time) that 'Mitoma is viewing the possibility of joining Bayern Munich this summer positively, and contact between the club and the agent has also started.'
He further explained, 'Although Director General Max Eberl has not yet sent an official offer, the club is definitely considering Mitoma as a strong option.'
Bayern Munich's interest is not a sudden development this summer. Bild's Toby Altchepl and Christian Falk revealed in their podcast that 'Mitoma has been on Bayern Munich's radar for some time.'
Since leaving Japanese J-League club Kawasaki Frontale to move to Europe, Mitoma has secured a regular starting position at Premier League club Brighton after passing through the Belgian league. He made an impressive start in his debut season with 7 goals and 5 assists, and this season he has recorded 10 goals and 3 assists in 35 league matches, becoming the first Japanese player to achieve double-digit scoring in the Premier League.
This means he has reached a milestone that Shinji Okazaki and Shinji Kagawa, who have played in the Premier League, could not achieve. Meanwhile, Son Heung-min has only scored 7 goals this season, placing him on the verge of ending his nine-year streak of double-digit scoring. As the season ends, Mitoma's performance is becoming even more prominent.
Brighton also seems to be taking a realistic approach regarding Mitoma's future moves. At this point, with his skills reaching their peak, the club is looking to maximize transfer revenue. Earlier, Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr attempted to acquire him, but Mitoma chose to remain in Europe.
Throughout this season, he has shown steady performance, currently averaging a rating of 7.11 on the football statistics platform FotMob, which is the second-highest figure in the team. His dribbling ability and creativity in tight spaces are rated among the league's top.
Meanwhile, Bayern is also considering the possibility of losing existing lateral resources like Serge Gnabry and Kingsley Coman. Bild reported that 'Gnabry has rejected Bayern's contract extension offer, and the club is preparing to put him on the market this summer.' Although Gnabry scored 11 goals and 5 assists in the Bundesliga this season, he has been criticized for his inconsistent overall performance.
Coman's future is also uncertain. He has been with Bayern since 2015 and boasts a record of winning titles in three leagues (France, Italy, Germany), but he is still evaluated as not meeting expectations in terms of impact during matches. While his speed and breakthrough abilities are outstanding, kick accuracy and finishing remain challenges.
Bayern Munich is moving toward replacing its lateral resources this summer, with Mitoma emerging as a key candidate in that process. In particular, the situation surrounding Kim Min-jae, who is also at the center of transfer rumors, raises the possibility of changes in Bayern's Asian player composition.
If Mitoma ends up wearing a Bayern Munich jersey, the chances of Son Heung-min, who has been the subject of transfer rumors to Bayern, naturally decrease. The scenario of a reunion between Son and Harry Kane as 'a fantastic duo' is now virtually slim.
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