Arsenal planning summer move for Brighton & Hove Albion winger Kaoru Mitoma?

Arsenal are reportedly considering whether to test Brighton & Hove Albion's resolve regarding Kaoru Mitoma.

When the Seagulls signed Mitoma in August 2021, the transfer made little headlines, the winger instantly being loaned to Belgian side Union SG.

Remarkably, the newly-promoted side finished at the top of the standings in their first season back in the first tier before finishing as runners-up in the Championship playoffs.

Mitoma played a influential role in that 2021-22 campaign, contributing eight goals and four assists, and the Japan international has only built on that form in English football.

The 25-year-old has seven strikes and two assists from his 20 outings in all competitions, while he made four outings at the World Cup with his country.

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As a result of his recent winning goals versus Liverpool and Bournemouth, interest is naturally increasing in the playmaker, who possesses a contract at the Amex Stadium until 2025.

According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Mitoma's valuation may now stand as high as £35m.

The Gunners have just conducted business with their Brighton counterparts to sign Leandro Trossard in a deal worth in the region of £27m.

A recent report from 90min indicated that Arsenal also hold an interest in Mitoma, even though Brighton are unlikely to consider a sale at this stage.

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The South Coast outfit find themselves in an identical situation regarding the future of Moises Caicedo, who also has a deal until the end of 2024-25.

Caicedo has already tried to engineer a move away from Brighton, coincidentally to Arsenal, and a summer sale appears likely if any interested club are prepared to pay upwards of £60m.

Financially, Brighton are in a position where they do not have to cash in on any prized assets should they not want to, and Arsenal are unlikely to spend in the region of £100m to acquire the pair.

Brighton are currently in contention for Champions League qualification, Roberto de Zerbi's team sitting six points adrift of fourth-placed Newcastle United in the Premier League standings with a game in hand.