According to a report in Football Insider, Brighton will not be against selling Kaoru Mitoma, even if he signs a new contract with the club.
The winger has been a revelation for the Seagulls since joining them for just £2.5 million in 2021 and in just 51 appearances, the Japanese international has become one of the finest attackers in the English Premier League.
His current contract with Brighton expires in 2025 but the club knows what he’s worth which is why they have already offered him a new contract. Mitoma currently earns a reported wage of £10,000 a week but the Seagulls have offered him a five-year extension along with a big pay rise.
According to talkSPORT, Kaoru Mitoma has already agreed to put pen on paper to the new deal which immediately made everything think that Brighton won’t agree to sell the winger.
However, as per the latest rumour, De Zerbi’s club will sell the 26-year-old, if a right offer comes in. The club currently values Mitoma at £70 million which means a fee of around £80-85 million should be enough to trigger a sale.
It’s hardly a surprise that Brighton are willing to part ways with Mitoma because they have already cashed in on star players like Moises Caicedo and Alexis Mac Allister and this bit of news will spark the interest of several English sides.
Chelsea and Manchester United have been watching Kaoru Mitoma in action for the whole of the previous season and recently, Man City have also been named as one of the interested clubs.
Once Mitoma signs the new deal, it was a given that Brighton will quote something crazy like £100-120 million but if Football Insider’s report is correct then Mitoma will be available for a bargain.
This season, the Japanese international has started in seven league games and he’s already had six goal contributions. Given how crazy the market has become, £70-80 million will be something all the three clubs will be more than happy to pay.
Manchester City have Jeremy Doku and Jack Grealish as the two left-wingers plus Phil Foden can also play on the left so they are the club who have the least requirement of someone like Mitoma but if the winger is available for such a cut-price deal even they will jump into this transfer race.
Chelsea and Man United are amidst turmoil this season but if they can qualify for the Champions League next campaign then they too will be sanctioned the money to make the big-name signings.
This summer, Brighton have shown that every one of their players is available for the right fee so come June of 2024, Kaoru Mitoma could be also put up for sale.
