Arsenal will pursue 26-year-old Brighton & Hove Albion winger Kaoru Mitoma if they fail to land Real Sociedad attacker Takefusa Kubo.
According to a report by Spanish outlet Fichajes, Kaoru Mitoma is the subject of interest from Arsenal. The Gunners primarily want to sign Takefusa Kubo from Real Sociedad to bolster their wide-attacking berths in the summer transfer window. So, the Brighton & Hove Albion winger is an alternative to Kubo, with Manchester City and Manchester United also interested in him.
Kaoru Mitoma and his rise at Brighton & Hove Albion
Kaoru Mitoma has established himself as one of the best wingers in the Premier League in the last 12 months. A native of Kawasaki, the Japanese attacker is a shining example of Brighton & Hove Albion’s impeccable scouting network. His exploits for the Seagulls have also helped him grow in stature on the international stage.
The 26-year-old has struggled with a few fitness issues this season, thus managing only 2,067 minutes of game time across 26 appearances in all competitions. However, Mitoma’s stock remains high, with several high-profile Premier League clubs, including Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester United, interested in signing him in the summer transfer window.
A man in demand
Arsenal’s interest in Kaoru Mitoma is understandable. Mikel Arteta wants two top-quality options for every position in his squad. However, the offensive slots are lagging in that objective, forcing the Spaniard to overplay Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka. So, the Brighton winger is a viable target for Arsenal.
As for Manchester City, Jack Grealish faces an uncertain future at the Etihad amid a dreadful 2023/24 campaign for him. So, the Premier League champions will likely dip their toes in the market for a wide attacker, with Mitoma being an option worth considering.
Meanwhile, Manchester United’s interest in Mitoma is somewhat perplexing. The 26-year-old is primarily a left-winger and barely plays on the right flank. So, with Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho already in the Manchester United squad, it is unclear how the Brighton winger will fit into the scheme of things at Old Trafford.
Nevertheless, Manchester United and Manchester City are behind Arsenal in the battle for Mitoma’s signature. It will be interesting to see if the Japanese international seals a move across the Premier League in the summer transfer window.
