Chelsea Transfer News: Bid for 'Japanese Messi' Yoshinori Muto Confirmed

FC Tokyo star Yoshinori Muto has been hugely impressive in the J-League this season, and club president Naoki Ogane has revealed that Chelsea have made a formal offer for the player.

According to Alex Harris of the Daily Star, the 22-year-old has been dubbed the “Japanese Messi” as a result of his engrossing performances at the point of the Tokyo attack, scoring 16 goals in 37 league appearances.

Ogane stated that the Stamford Bridge club have made their interest concrete.

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“It is true that Chelsea sent us an offer for Muto,” the Tokyo president said, per Harris’ piece. “It is a formal offer with conditions. They want to acquire him in the summer.”

Here’s a look at why the Japan international has been attracting so much attention as of late:

It’d be some move for the player. Chelsea are one of the most illustrious names in European football after all, and their stature in Japan is only going to grow following the Blues’ new sponsorship deal with the Yokohama Rubber Company. But the player insisted that he’s yet to make his mind up on a potential switch.

“I'm honoured to receive an offer from this wonderful team,” said Muto, speaking to the press in Japan (h/t Sky Sports). “But I have not made any decision yet.”

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The Premier League hasn’t been the easiest environment for Japanese players to adapt in the past. Shinji Kagawa had a turbulent time at Manchester United before being shipped back to Borussia Dortmund, while Southampton defender Maya Yoshida has been inconsistent when appearing for Ronald Koeman’s side.

Like Kagawa, Muto clearly has the natural talent to suggest he could cut it the Premier League, but with Chelsea’s surfeit of attacking options, it’s difficult to see him getting the game time he’d need to flourish. As noted by Harris, the player would also find it tough to secure a work permit.

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Commercially, signing a rising star of the Japan national team on the back of the Yokohama Rubber Company deal makes a lot of sense for the Blues. But for the player himself, while a move to Stamford Bridge would be understandably enticing, being buried in the Chelsea reserves or sat on the bench will do little to enrich his development.