Barcelona target expected to sign new deal with current club

Jude Bellingham made it clear that when a team like Real Madrid comes calling, you don’t say no. Barcelona are in that same stratosphere. The current La Liga champions and 5x Champions League winners are a side that many dream of playing for, but they also get linked to a number of players who never take to the pitch for the Blaugrana.

Recently Barca has been linked with a move for Japanese sensation Kaoru Mitoma, and while football insider Fabrizio Romano said he’s “aware” of the interest, he also confirmed that there have been no concrete approaches for the player.

"“I’m aware of some talk of Barcelona making Kaoru Mitoma a top target for 2024, but honestly at the moment, I’m not aware of anything concrete.“Mitoma is appreciated by many clubs around Europe, but there’s really nothing advanced with anyone at this stage.“Brighton, however, are making progress in new deal talks with Mitoma, and it’s expected to be agreed soon.”"

Kaoru Mitoma expected to sign a new deal with Brighton in the coming weeks

Japan has become a hotbed for talent over the last 5-10 years and Mitoma is just another example of the J-League being home to some of the most exciting prospects in football.

Mitoma joined Brighton in a £3m deal from Kawasaki Frontale back in 2021 and has gone on to score 13 goals and register 12 assists in 52 games.

After becoming accustomed to the rigours of Premier League football, the Japanese winger has continued to improve on a weekly basis and his goal against Wolverhampton Wanderers in August was voted the Premier League goal of the month, making Mitoma the first Japanese player to win the award.

Those performances have attracted the attention of teams all around Europe and while a new deal doesn’t stop a transfer from happening, it usually means a hike in the price of a player.

With Barcelona working their way through their financial crisis and having spent less than €4 million on permanent transfers this summer, there’s a good chance that the Spanish champions could be costed out of making a move for Mitoma who’s destined for great things.