Premier League

Mitoma to Al Nassr: Saudi Club Set to Place Second Bid for Japanese Star

Kaoru Mitoma to Al Nassr was not a transfer story we were expecting to hear, but the Saudi club surprisingly put a bid in for the forward. Brighton & Hove Albion did not entertain the attempt, but reports suggest Al Nassr are not planning on backing down soon. Here are the latest details on the deal.

Mitoma to Al Nassr: Is It Happening?

Brighton have turned down a £54 million (€65 million) bid from Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr for winger Kaoru Mitoma. The Seagulls have made it clear that they are unwilling to part ways with the Japanese international for that fee.

Brighton see Mitoma as a key figure in their squad and are determined to retain his services, especially after his impressive performances in the Premier League. However, Al Nassr remain undeterred and are already working on submitting an improved offer in an attempt to lure the 26-year-old away from the Amex Stadium.

With the Saudi club keen to strengthen their attacking options, negotiations could intensify in the coming days as they look to test Brighton’s resolve.

Time is quickly running out for the Saudi Pro League side to finalise a deal. Their transfer window is set to close at 8:59 pm UK and Irish time on Friday. With just hours remaining, Al Nassr face a race against the clock to agree on a fee with Brighton and complete all the necessary paperwork before the deadline.

Sky Italia reports the new offer could be worth £71 million, but reporter James Benge suggests it could be as high as £90 million.

Is Ronaldo Influencing the Deal?

Al Nassr secured a crucial 2-1 victory over Al Raed on Thursday night in the Saudi Pro League. In doing so, they kept their title hopes alive as they continue to chase down the league leaders. The win saw them close the gap to just five points off the top. They are now in third place as they look to mount a serious challenge in the second half of the season.

Mitoma to Al Nassr would be a transfer that could have a significant impact on the title race. Since making his Brighton debut in August 2022, Mitoma has featured in 92 matches across all competitions, finding the net 18 times. This season, he has been an ever-present figure under Fabian Hürzeler, playing in all 23 Premier League games and contributing five goals. Al Nassr’s pursuit of the Japanese winger follows their recent agreement on a £64 million deal for Aston Villa striker Jhon Durán.

Sky Sports News’ chief reporter Kaveh Solhekol suggests Ronaldo played a part in Nassr’s recent spending spree:

“Even though they’ve got Ronaldo, they have not really been challenging for the title. Al Hilal are the best team in Saudi Arabia at the moment so I wonder whether Ronaldo has been putting a bit of pressure on the people upstairs at Al Nassr and saying, ‘I want to win more titles and trophies’, as he turns 40 next week.

“This is maybe why they’re going for top players like Jhon Duran and Mitoma.”