Kaoru Mitoma Brighton and Hove Albion
Brighton and Hove Albion
Arsenal might be trying really hard to sign Rodrygo from Real Madrid but should they fail, the Gunners will then try and go after Brighton and Hove Albion’s Kaoru Mitoma, according to Fichajes.
Arsenal are desperate to add a new left-winger before the new season begins and currently, Rodrygo is one of the top wingers available in the market. However, Real Madrid are yet to make up their mind and even if they do decide to sell, Los Blancos will demand at least €100 million for the Brazilian international.
The Gunners won’t mind paying the transfer fee but they believe Rodrygo’s wage demands could prove to be a burden on the club which is why they are scouting other options. Kaoru Mitoma is undoubtedly a fine talent but will it be sensible on Arsenal’s part to pay money for the Japanese winger.
Will Kaoru Mitoma fit into Arsenal’s system?
Kaoru Mitoma had a wonderful debut campaign with Brighton but last season, his form took a sharp decline. Thankfully, the 28-year-old has been able to revive his numbers and he has ended the season with 15 goal contributions in 41 games.
He is an out-and-out left winger who is blessed with pace and trickery. His ball control is close quarters is excellent and in today’s time when wingers are slowly losing their flair, Mitoma is a rare player who can still mesmerise with his skills and dribbles.
There’s no denying that Kaoru Mitoma is an asset in the Brighton team but we doubt if he will be a major upgrade to Gabriel Martinelli or Leandro Trossard. Martinelli also has 15 G/A this season and if Arsenal are planning to replace him then they should go out and sign a much more impactful player.
Mitoma can seamlessly fit into Mikel Arteta’s system next season but he is not someone who can provide 20 plus goal contributions consistently for the next couple of seasons.
Here are some of his numbers in comparison to Gabriel Martinelli’s from the current season:
Stats – EPL 24/25 Gabriel Martinelli Kaoru Mitoma
Games Played 33 36
Goals 8 10
Assists 4 4
Key Passes 37 36
Minutes per Goal 287 261
Pass Completion % 79 80
Shots per Goal Scored 4.38 4.50
How much do the Gunners have to spend to sign the winger?
In January, Brighton had rejected an offer of around €73 million from the Saudi Pro League so if Arsenal want to sign him they will have to pay more than that.
The 28-year-old’s contract will expire in 2027 and his current market value is only €45 million. Even if Brighton lower their demands, Arsenal will be better off going after Rodrygo or someone like Nico Williams.
Williams will be available for €58 million and it will make more sense to spend money on a youngster than on a 28-year-old.
If the Gunners are worried about inflated wage bills then instead of paying an absurd transfer fee for Kaoru Mitoma, Mikel Arteta should focus on working with Gabriel Martinelli. Only if the Seagulls are ready to sell their star winger for €50-55 million should the Gunners make a move.