Yet Another Brighton Player Chelsea Have Been Linked With

Manchester City are plotting a move for Brighton star Kauro Mitoma with Arsenal and Chelsea having been linked with the Japanese forward in recent months

Arsenal risk Man City Brighton raid amid Chelsea’s £100m Moises Caicedo transfer chase. (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images) (Image: (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images))

Arsenal risk allowing Manchester City to raid Brighton for Japan international Kaoru Mitoma after he was linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium this summer. The Gunners are keen to bolster Mikel Arteta’s squad despite withdrawing their interest in Mitoma’s teammate, Moises Caicedo.

Chelsea are currently locked in negotiations with Roberto De Zerbi’s side as they look to strike a deal to sign Caicedo. The Ecuadorian midfielder is keen on joining the Blues but Brighton are standing firm over their £100million price demand to let Caicedo leave.

The 21-year-old signed a new long-term contract after the January transfer window despite Arsenal and Chelsea having bids to sign him turned down. Caicedo has once again been absent from training with De Zerbi’s squad as he looks to force through a move to Stamford Bridge – as per reports.

Brighton could face another raid for one of their top players with City now said to be plotting a swoop for Mitoma. According to The Sun, Pep Guardiola wants to sign the Japanese forward as he looks to replace Riyad Mahrez – who left to join Saudi Arabian side Al-Ahli this summer.

Mitoma’s current deal has two years left but the Seagulls are keen to tie him down for longer and have already knocked back interest from Arsenal and Chelsea. Earlier this summer ahead of their friendly against Yokohama F Marinos, Guardiola was asked about the quality of Asian football – to which he referenced the impact Mitoma has had on the Premier League.

“Well I would say the impact of [Kaoru] Mitoma on the Premier League has been incredible,” the City boss told reporters. “He is in the right place with the right manager and his last season was extraordinary.”

Brighton have already lost Alexis Mac Allister to Liverpool this summer and Caicedo’s future remains uncertain with three weeks of the transfer window left to go. De Zerbi will be very reluctant to allow Mitoma to leave, but City could be set to test the Seagulls’ resolve with an offer in the coming weeks.