German Tabloid Bild are reporting that we could revive our interest in signing Mainz striker Yoshinori Muto.
The Japanese international has been a target for the club in the past, but it seems we’ll have to fight off West Ham if we are going to secure the 25-year-old’s signature before the end of the transfer window.
Fans on Twitter are sceptical that we would have the funds to compete for the forward:
We can't compete with football clubs.
— Simon (@LittleHenryD) July 18, 2018
We can’t compete with cricket clubs
— Samuel Brown (@sammyb9999ipad1) July 18, 2018
We can't compete with Ashleys Bar bill.
— Simon (@LittleHenryD) July 18, 2018
We can't compete with working men's clubs
— Big A (@BigAlazaroo) July 19, 2018
I honestly started to believe this until I read “… fend off West Ham…”
— Steve Darrah ????⚫️⚪️ (@Darrah88) July 18, 2018
honestly id take this fella over some of the other options. maybe bring him and rondon in would besound business. but to be fair as things stand were signing no one else!
— Bri???????????????????????????? (@Bri2889) July 18, 2018
I'd take him over rondon
— Ashley Merrington (@ajmerrington) July 18, 2018
Oh, I like this lad. Interesting link.
— Ian McCabe (@ianmmccabe) July 18, 2018
He’s too weak on the ball for England. He’s not even that good in Germany. I don’t like it.
— Rika Nakamura (@Kuidaor3) July 18, 2018
Verdict:
Mainz’s sporting director Rouven Schroder told Bild that no club has made an official bid yet:
“There are inquiries, but so far no concrete offer!”
Considering we are focused on signing Salomon Rondon, I can’t see us going after another striker unless a move for the Venezuelan collapsed. It’s more likely that Muto is on a list of potential backups that the club could pursue.
His record of 20 goals and 10 assists in 60 Bundesliga appearances isn’t too bad, but there have been question marks over whether he could cope with the physicality of the Premier League.
Should we look at signing Muto? Let me know in the poll: