Premier League’s best winger disappoints Man Utd
Robin Bairner
- 4 Oct 2023 13:25 BST
- 6 min read
Brighton winger Kaoru Mitoma is set to sign a new five-year contract with the Seagulls to hamper the prospects of Manchester United or Manchester City landing him in the foreseeable future.
Both Manchester clubs have been linked with an interest in the 26-year-old Japan star, with reports suggesting that they were preparing to square off in the January transfer window in a battle for the player.
Chelsea and Arsenal have also been monitoring the status of the former Union SG star, although interest from both clubs has faded for the time being.
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And Brighton are set to land a body blow to the other side’s seeking Mitoma, according to LondonWorld, which reports that the Seagulls are ready to announce a new deal for the player that will run until 2029.
Mitoma is set to receive a healthy wage rise, with the player set to land more than €90,000 per week.
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Speaking at the end of last season, Mitoma said: “I feel a real warmth, they are really exceptional supporters. The staff behind the scenes are good people too, I am very happy here.
“I have gained good experience trying to get used to the new environment and am looking forward to doing even better next season.”
United and City, though, will be mindful that Moises Caicedo signed a new contract with Brighton in January before being sold to Chelsea in the summer, showing that the prospect of a deal is not totally deal.
How good is Mitoma?
According to data analytics experts SciSports, Mitoma is performing better than any other winger in the Premier League during the 2023/24 season, as the interactive graphic above shows, even outplaying the in-form Mohamed Salah at Liverpool.
These two players are well clear of any others in their position, according to the experts, who make their calculations based on hundreds of in-game data points.
Mitoma was also among the best wingers in his debut season in the Premier League, when he scored seven times and assisted six more in England’s top flight and chipped in with 10 goals and eight assists overall.
