Barcelona are keeping a close eye on Brighton winger Kaoru Mitoma after realizing he could fill one of the few positions they need to strengthen, according to a report.
Mitoma has become one of the most exciting wingers in the Premier League with his form for Brighton since breaking into their first team last summer. He has attracted the attention of most top clubs, with reports linking him with Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City and many more.
According to updates from Mundo Deportivo, he also has admirers in Barcelona. Perhaps they got to know him better when, following Ansu Fati’s loan spell at Brighton, their technical team became enamored with his abilities. Signing a left-winger is not Barcelona’s main priority in the 2024 transfer window, but it is something they could consider as they may lack a specialist there. They have Joao Felix this season, but he is only on loan from Atletico Madrid. They may still be looking to keep him, but that remains unclear.
If Mitoma is available in the future, Barcelona could target him if they solve the more pressing problem of finding another defensive midfielder to compete with Oriol Romeu.
That said, their continuation depends on whether his contract is extended beyond the current 2025 expiration date, and various sources, including those at TEAMtalk, have confirmed he is in the running for a new deal at the Amex Stadium. This doesn’t necessarily mean he will be banned from other clubs, but it will ensure Brighton get a better deal if they sell him. Barcelona, whose financial problems have forced them to focus largely on free signings in recent years, may not have a chance in this case.
Where will Mitoma spend his early years?
At age 26, Mitoma is near the peak of his career. In terms of competing in Europe, he was a late bloomer. But it was worth the wait for Brighton and they will be hoping to take advantage of his services in his prime.
To date, the Japan international has scored 13 goals in 52 appearances for Brighton, along with 12 assists. He has adapted well to his debut in English football and it will be interesting to see how he performs in La Liga.
That said, it seems more likely that he will stay in the Premier League. The question he will have to ask himself is how high can he aim as he prepares to show the best version of himself in the coming seasons.
