Chelsea Transfer News: 'Japanese Messi' Yoshinori Muto Rejects Blues Move

Japan international Yoshinori Muto has rejected a move to Chelsea in favour of joining Mainz, per Kyodo News (via the Daily Telegraph).  

Muto had been the subject of a £4 million offer from Chelsea, per Sports Nippon (h/t James Orr of The Independent), and he had been considering the chance to join the Premier League champions.

But he now looks likely to head to the Bundesliga instead, and a move to Mainz would see him link up with his fellow Japanese striker Shinji Okazaki.

Michael Probst/Associated Press/Associated Press

Duncan Castles of Goal.com explained that Muto had concerns about how much playing time he would have at Chelsea and also whether he would qualify for a work permit:

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While Muto stated that he was “flattered” by Chelsea's approach, he had serious reservations about moving to a European club where he was unlikely to receive much – if any – playing time. The recent hardening of UK work permit rules raised concerns that he would not be granted a visa to play in the Premier League and would be loaned out to one of Chelsea's overseas feeder clubs.

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Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has previously confirmed that he is looking to sign a new striker this summer, per Kevin Palmer of ESPN FC, to ensure he has enough cover in his squad.

However, following reports of Chelsea’s offer for Muto, Mourinho acknowledged he only knew a little about a player dubbed the "Japanese Messi," per Alex Harris of the Daily Star. You can get to know Muto a little better by watching the video below:

“I know a little bit about Muto,” Mourinho said, per Jonathan Green of the Daily Star. “I don’t think it’s nice for me to speak about a player who plays for FC Tokyo. If FC Tokyo coach speaks about my players I wouldn’t be happy.”

Chelsea have agreed a sponsorship deal with Japanese company Yokohama Rubber, per Green, and that led to speculation the club would try to sign a player from the J-League.

Andrew Redington/Getty Images

Mourinho is aware of the impact of commercial interests, but he remains insistent that any signings must be good enough to play for Chelsea.

He said, per Green: “We are a football club, we want to win matches and trophies, and if we don’t believe the player is a good player or a good prospect that’s an issue for sure.”

Muto is currently at a training camp with the Japan national team, although he had to pull out due a knock, per Sean Carroll:

He is expected to make an announcement regarding his future on Thursday, per Kyodo News (h/t the Daily Telegraph), and a move to Mainz would make more sense for his immediate career.

It will allow Muto to adjust to the demands of European football and playing at a higher level, while also remaining a little out of the spotlight with a club the size of Mainz.

Chelsea can monitor his performances during his time in the Bundesliga to assess whether he will have the ability to make an impact in the Premier League. A couple of years from now, Muto will also be in a stronger position to qualify for a work permit as well as challenge for a place in the Chelsea team.