Arsenal join transfer race for Premier League star after Florian Wirtz blow

Arsenal are looking to bolster their frontline this summer with Brighton star Kaoru Mitoma on their radar but Bayern Munich are also keen tabs on the Japan star

Arsenal are weighing up a move for Brighton’s Kaoru Mitoma as they look to bolster their forward line, but Bayern Munich are also ready to join the race for the Japanese ace. Mitoma has gone from strength to strength at the Amex with Europe’s finest now circling.

The Gunners want to add to their frontline with a No 9 a summer priority, but they’re also looking to bring in quality on the wings. Mitoma has been identified as a potential target with new sporting director Andrea Berta currently compiling a shortlist of targets.

Arsenal finished second for the third straight year and are ready to invest again in an effort to eventually win England’s top flight. Rodrygo is considered their dream signing but the main issue with the Real Madrid man is his wage demands, reports Sky Germany.

The Brazilian is reportedly unhappy at Los Blancos and is open to moving elsewhere. He’s been integral at Real for several years, but won’t come cheap as Arsenal consider who else they can pursue.

Bayern themselves are considering moving for Brighton’s winger. They had been in the hunt for Florian Wirtz, who is poised to leave Bayer Leverkusen this summer. It was the Bavarians and Liverpool in a two-horse race for the German, but the player is thought to favour a move to Anfield.

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Bayern president Herbert Hainer has relayed a conversation he had with another club chief and said at a fan festival: “Max Eberl [Bayern’s director of sport] informed me that Florian Wirtz is probably leaning towards Liverpool. I can’t say how things will transpire with Leverkusen.”

Wirtz is valued at more than £100million by his current club, which would need Liverpool to shatter their transfer record. It remains to be seen where he ends up but Bayern have begun making contingency plans with Mitoma now on their radar.

Brighton have proved to be shrewd operators in the transfer market. They’ve unlocked numerous gems and Mitoma has made himself a leading light on the south coast. This year Mitoma has scored 11 times, including a stunning strike against Chelsea. The Seagulls have shown that they will sell their top talents, but they will demand huge fees before doing so. The likes of Moises Caicedo have been sold on for over £100million.

Brighton chief Paul Barber admitted previously that Brighton will “likely” sell their top talents at some stage. Should they choose to let Mitoma leave then they will make a massive profit on the £3m they paid to sign him from Kawasaki Frontale back in 2021.

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