Kicker reports that Mainz 05 have completed the rumored capture of Japanese midfielder Sota Kawasaki. The 23-year-old has passed his Mainz medical and is due to start training with the Rheinhessen. Kicker offers up specific details on the deal. Kawasaki will join the Bundesliga outfit on a loan arrangement that features a €200,000 fee and a €1m purchase option.
Kawasaki is known to be more of a defensive midfielder, but Kicker nevertheless claims that the Palatinate club plan to use him in the ten slot. Mainz head coach Bo Henriksen has stated that he specifically seeks a player capable of playing as a ten as a top priority in his summer squad planning.
Kawasaki’s signing likely puts to rest rumors linking Mainz with SC Braga midfielder Diego Rodrigues. Regarding the search to find a direct replacement for departed lead striker Jonathan Burkardt, a Sky Germany report earlier today suggested that the Nullfünfter may be interested in Sturm Graz striker William Bøving.
At this point, however, no other German sources are corroborating Mainz’s interest in the Denmark U21 international. With an estimated market value of €8m, Bøving may prove a touch too expensive for the German Conference League representatives.
