The Football Faithful
·13 May 2024
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Yahoo sportsThe Football Faithful
·13 May 2024
AZ Alkmaar could allow Yukinari Sugawara to leave this summer for a fee of just €6m (£5.1m), with several Premier League clubs interested.
Sugawara has been a key figure for AZ Alkmaar who are fourth in the Eredivisie and in contention for Champions League qualification ahead of the final weekend.
The Japan international has four goals and six assists in the league and has offered real threat with his set-piece delivery and long-range passing from right-back.
Liverpool were linked with the 23-year-old earlier in the campaign before the emergence of Conor Bradley as a first-team option, while Sky Germany are reporting that Everton and Brighton are tracking the progress of Sugawara ahead of the summer transfer window.
The defender’s deal at AZ will enter its final 12 months in the summer and the Dutch side have set a modest asking price of €6m for Sugawara, with a sale deemed ‘very likely’.
However, Everton and Brighton could face competition from Inter Milan and Wolfsburg, who are each in the market for right-backs this summer.
The arrival of Sugawara at Inter could pave the path for Denzel Dumfries to leave the San Siro. Dumfries is also out of contract in 2025 and has been a long-term transfer target for Manchester United and Chelsea.