Report: Newcastle United target Mainz striker Yoshinori Muto

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Newcastle United reportedly want to bring Bundesliga ace Yoshinori Muto from Mainz to St James’ Park, and he is dreaming of the Premier League.

Mainz are having a poor season in the Bundesliga but their Japanese striker Yoshinori Muto is at least living up to his end of the bargain.

Muto has been Mainz’s most impressive performer across 2017/18 and has scored seven goals in 17 league games in Germany’s top flight.

Although according to Kicker, there is a good chance the 25-year-old will no longer be playing at the Opel Arena next season. Because it is understood that Muto is dreaming of a move to the Premier League – and Newcastle United could make his wish come true.

The Tokyo-born forward has been playing for Mainz for the last three years, scoring 19 league goals in 62 games for the club. And while that record is far from prolific, you get the feeling that a striker with Muto’s intelligent movement and razor-sharp predatory instincts is capable of netting far more frequently with better players around him.

Whether Newcastle, a side who have averaged one goal a game in the Premier League this season, are the right side remains to be seen.

Kicker, however, points out that any side wishing to sign Muto this summer would have to offer Mainz a substantial profit on the £2.5 million they paid FC Tokyo back in 2015.

But Muto would still be an affordable addition for the Magpies, with his contract due to expire in 2019.