Manchester United have sent scouts to watch Karou Mitoma as the club consider an approach for the Brighton winger.
Mitoma has shone during a breakthrough season with the Seagulls, with the Japan international having scored nine goals in all competitions.
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His six goals in the Premier League is a joint-record for a Japanese player in a single season, matching the totals of Leicester’s Shinji Okazaki (2017/18) and ex-Manchester United midfielder Shinji Kagawa (2012/13).
The 25-year-old’s performances have impressed rival sides and Manchester United are understood to have sent scouts to monitor Mitoma in recent weeks.
The Daily Mail are reporting that the Red Devils are tracking the progress of the winger, though Brighton have insisted that the club are under no pressure to sell their leading assets. Roberto De Zerbi’s side are pushing for a place in Europe and have reached the FA Cup semi-finals, and the Seagulls are keen to keep the core of their talented side together.
Brighton CEO, Paul Barber, discussed Mitoma’s future with the Beautiful Game podcast and admitted that the club anticipate interest in the winger this summer.
“Obviously he’s [Mitoma] another player that will be in the spotlight in the next transfer window,” Barber said.
“We’re ready for that and we understand that, we just hope he can have a great second half of the season. We’re very fortunate from a financial point of view that we’re not a club that has to sell players to survive.”
Brighton have, however, shown a willingness to sell stars if suitable offers arrive. Ben White, Marc Cucurella, Yves Bissouma and Leandro Trossard have all departed for ‘Big Six’ clubs in recent transfer windows, while the Seagulls expect to receive approaches for Moises Caicedo and Alexis Mac Allister this summer.
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