According to Japanese news agency Kyodo News, Chelsea have ‘made a bid’ for FC Tokyo forward Yoshinori Muto.
The J-League striker, who scored 13 goals in 33 appearances in his first professional J-League season, has attracted the interest of the Blues, who have reportedly bit £4m for his services.
Muto, 22, represented Japan during the Asian Cup in January, where they reached the quarter finals under coach Vahid Halilhodzic.
A spokesman for the Japanese club said: “It is true that we have received an official offer from Chelsea for Muto. But nothing has been decided.”
The 22-year-old has already scored three goals in four league games this season, as his side sit second in the table.
Muto told the Japanese press:
“I’m honoured to receive an offer from this wonderful team, but I have not made any decision yet.”
The deal comes just weeks after Chelsea announced a record breaking deal with Japanese sponsors Yokohoma Rubber.
Muto, who recently graduated from an Economics degree at Keio University, would add to a very scarce list of Japanese players in the English Premier League, with Shinji Kagawa (who left last year) and Maya Yoshida being perhaps the two biggest names to have graced the English stage.
