Bayern Munich is seriously considering Kaoru Mitoma (Brighton) as a substitute resource following the failure to recruit Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen). Local reports in Germany indicate that Bayern Munich has already contacted Mitoma's side directly, and the possibility of a transfer is reportedly becoming more concrete.

Florian Plettenberg of Sky Sports Germany noted on the 25th (Korean time) through his social media that "Bayern Munich is pushing for the recruitment of Kaoru Mitoma, and on the 24th, Max Eberl and Christoph Freund met directly with Mitoma's agent."

Mitoma is also showing a positive response regarding the transfer, and with the situations of Kingsley Coman and Leroy Sane being uncertain, Bayern Munich is reportedly considering Mitoma as a strong alternative.

Mitoma's team, Brighton, values him as a key player until the end of his contract (2027) but reportedly conveyed their willingness to negotiate around 55 million euros (85.4 billion won). If this transfer occurs, Mitoma is likely to set a new record for the highest transfer fee for an Asian player.

The current record is held by Kim Min-jae. Bayern Munich previously paid 50 million euros (77.6 billion won) to acquire Kim Min-jae from SSC Napoli. The proposed transfer fee of 55 million euros by Brighton could surpass this record.

This recruitment push is directly related to the flow of Bayern Munich's failed attempt to acquire Wirtz. European transfer market expert Fabrizio Romano reported on the 24th that "Wirtz has confirmed his move to Liverpool and has informed Bayern Munich of this fact."

Ultimately, Bayern Munich is shifting to Plan B and focusing on Mitoma. They are also demonstrating quick movements.

Mitoma, who is a member of the Japanese national team, left Kawasaki Frontale in 2021 to sign with Brighton. After spending time on loan at Union Saint-Gilloise in the Belgium league, he began to make a significant impact in the Premier League starting in 2022.

This season, he has continued to impress with 10 goals and 3 assists in 35 league matches (28 starts). Mitoma is the first Japanese player to record double-digit goals in a single Premier League season, a feat not achieved by past Japanese players like Shinji Okazaki and Shinji Kagawa who have played in Europe.

In contrast, Son Heung-min has managed only 7 goals this season, diminishing his chances of reaching double-digit goals for the ninth consecutive year. Consequently, there is a cautious evaluation that the title of "Asia's top striker" may be shifting from Son Heung-min to Mitoma.

However, not all Bayern Munich fans welcome this recruitment. Mitoma, born in 1997, does not differ significantly in age from Leroy Sane (born in 1996) and Kingsley Coman (born in 2000) as a substitute. Critics argue that this recruitment is not a long-term reinforcement for the future but rather focuses on immediate squad enhancement. Additionally, given that a fund close to the highest transfer fee for an Asian player may be invested, some fans have raised questions about the effectiveness of the investment.

However, Bayern Munich's flank attack has lost stability due to injuries and inconsistency. In that sense, Mitoma is an attractive option as an already proven flank resource in the European stage. If the transfer is finalized, Mitoma will become the second Asian player in Bayern Munich's history after Kim Min-jae.

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