‘My understanding’: Fabrizio Romano shares update on Manchester City interest in ‘exciting’ 26-year-old
Manchester City may be interested in Brighton and Hove Albion winger Kaoru Mitoma, but nothing will happen in the coming months.
That’s according to Fabrizio Romano, who has claimed that Brighton want to keep the 26-year-old despite City’s reported interest, and that there is nothing concrete between the two clubs at the moment.
City are not the only club interested in the Japan international, with Barcelona, Liverpool and Napoli also amongst the clubs reportedly keen on signing the winger, but everyone will have to wait to see how a deal eventually progresses.
On his Substack column, Romano claimed that Brighton want to fend off interest in their star despite the reported interest from Pep Guardiola’s side.
“My understanding is that there is nothing at the moment – I asked today and there is nothing to report on player or club side,” Romano stated.
“Brighton love Mitoma and for sure they want him to stay on a long-term deal, it’s very normal to see top clubs following him but as I said for Evan Ferguson, also for Mitoma we’ll get ten or more links per week but nothing will happen this or next month.
“Mitoma is 100% focused on Brighton and they don’t even want to mention an asking price for the player.”
Could Mitoma join Man City?
The winger has been described as “exciting” by Brighton CEO Paul Barber, and he would certainly add a creative spark to the City side should he join.
The winger scored 10 and assisted 8 times for Brighton last season, with his speed and immense dribbling ability standing out as he quickly became one of the most electric wingers in the Premier League.
He could prove to be an excellent addition on the left wing, but a deal currently seems far off, and Brighton have proven tough to negotiate with in the past.
The arrival of Jeremy Doku this summer has perhaps reduced the need for a winger in January, but Mitoma could be a player to keep an eye on next summer.
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Evan Ferguson Gets Virgil Van Dijk Seal Of Approval
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Virgil Van Dijk has given Evan Ferguson his backing to become a big player for Ireland over the coming years.
The Liverpool defender knows all about the qualities of a good striker, having regularly come up against the best in the world while playing for club and country.
However, Van Dijk won’t have to deal with Ferguson at the Aviva Stadium on Sunday night, as the Brighton forward was ruled out of both of Ireland’s games in this international window through injury.
This was a shame for all Ireland supporters who wanted to see how the 18-year-old would perform in green, on the back of scoring his first Premier League hat-trick last weekend.
Virgil Van Dijk on Evan Ferguson
“If you score a hat-trick just before the international break, then he was definitely going to be in a good shape and full of confidence,” Van Dijk told reporters at the Aviva Stadium, when asked about Ferguson.
“He looks like he’s a promising striker for Ireland for now and the future, and that’s definitely a big blow for them. But whoever is going to play tomorrow for them, we have to be ready to fight.”
Ferguson’s emergence has rightly excited Ireland supporters, who have been starved of a top-class striker since Robbie Keane retired in 2016.
Goalscorers have been few and far between for Ireland over the decades, with the Keane era bridging a gap to some big names from Jack Charlton’s days as manager.
Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman remembers that group all too well, having played against them at three major tournaments.
Ronald Koeman recalls Ireland clashes
“At that time, they were really strong with good strikers – (John) Aldridge, (Frank) Stapleton, I think – and the coach was famous, Jack Charlton.
“That has changed, of course. They have now more younger players – they need time – they don’t have a lot of Irish players I heard of playing in the Premier League and that makes it really difficult for the coach.”
Ireland will need to pick up three points against the Dutch on Sunday if they want to keep their Euro 2024 qualifying hopes alive, and according to the team we’d like to see line out, Adam Idah will bear much of the goalscoring responsibility in the absence of Ferguson.
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