Garth Crooks urges Manchester United to sign Brighton & Hove Albion attacker Kaoru Mitoma
Former Premier League ace Garth Crooks has urged Manchester United to acquire the service of Brighton & Hove Albion attacker Kaoru Mitoma.
The Japan international has been in fine form since last season. As a result, a host of big teams are being linked with getting a hold of the 26-year-old’s signature in the coming future.
However, writing on BBC Sport (h//t Manchester Evening News), Crooks, who spent some time on loan at United during his playing career, feels Mitoma is the perfect player for the Red Devils.
“Manchester United have Jadon Sancho and Antony in their ranks and I haven’t seen anything like the quality or ability from either of those two players that I have seen from this lad. How do United get it so wrong?
“I accept that Old Trafford is a daunting stage and the stakes are much higher there, but Mitoma is a United player if ever I saw one.”
Brighton signed the left winger in the summer of 2021 from Kawasaki Frontale. Subsequently, the Japanese was sent out on loan to Royale Union Saint Gilloise in Belgium.
Then, last season, Mitoma was given the opportunity to shine in the Premier League and he took it with both hands. The forward was one of the breakout stars in the English top flight in the 2022/23 term.
In the previous campaign, the Japanese established himself as a key player for the Seagulls. In 41 appearances in all competitions for the East Sussex-based club, he scored 10 goals and provided eight assists.
Mitoma has started off the new term in a similar fashion. He scored what could arguably be a contender for the Goal of the Season in Brighton’s 4-1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers on 19 August.
At United, the wingers have been underwhelming in the opening two fixtures of the campaign. Antony and Alejandro Garnacho have started out wide in the games against Wolves and Tottenham Hotspur. Unfortunately, they have cut frustrating figures. Jadon Sancho has also failed to make a mark at the club so far.
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Mitoma is a talented attacker who seems to be only getting better with time. But it will be interesting to see whether the Old Trafford side will make a move for the Japanese further down the line.
