Arsenal are leading the race ahead of both Manchester City and Manchester United to sign Brighton & Hove Albion attacker Kaoru Mitoma this summer, according to a report.
In the past year, Mitoma has emerged as one of the Premier League's standout wingers, and his success is a testament to Brighton's effective scouting network.
Despite contending with fitness setbacks that restricted him to 2,067 minutes over 26 appearances this season, Mitoma's performances have garnered significant attention from some of the Premier League giants ahead of the summer transfer market.
Arsenal lead race to sign Brighton's Kaoru Mitoma
However, according to Fichajes, despite interest from Man United and Man City, Arsenal are now in the lead to secure the Japan international's signature at the end of the season.
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Mikel Arteta has faced challenges in rotating players such as Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli on a regular basis this season, and the addition of Mitoma will provide him with more flexibility and options to manage his squad effectively.
The report adds that Arteta is keen to bolster his options in the wide areas and is also considering a move for Real Sociedad's Takefusa Kubo.
Manchester clubs to rival Arsenal for Mitoma signature
While the Gunners have emerged as the frontrunners to secure the signing of Mitoma, they are still likely to face stern opposition from the Manchester clubs, particularly United, who are expected to make wholesale changes in the summer under Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
The Red Devils' interest in the 26-year-old is hardly surprising given their struggles this season. Antony has failed to hit the heights hoped since joining the club, while Jadon Sancho's time at Old Trafford looks likely to be reaching an end after his fallout with manager Erik ten Hag.
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Undoubtedly, the Seagulls will be reluctant to part ways with such a key player easily, and clubs like Arsenal and Man United may need to shell out a fair chunk of change to secure his services.
For United, that would require the sale of one or more existing players to ensure that they remain within FFP guidelines.
Mitoma arrived at the Amex Stadium from Kawasaki Frontale for just £2.5m and penned a four-year deal with the Seagulls, which was set to expire in 2025. However, he agreed to a new contract last year, which runs until June 2027.
The Japanese winger has made 67 appearances for Roberto De Zerbi's side over the last two seasons, scoring 13 goals and providing 13 assists across all competitions in that time.
Devesh Jaganath
