Hoffenheim set to sign Kodai Sano

After having an initial €15 million offer for NEC Nijmegen’s Kodai Sano turned down last month, it now appears TSG Hoffenheim have made a breakthrough in their bid to sign the Japanese midfielder.

According to De Telegraaf, the Bundesliga side have submitted a “serious” bid for Sano, with a transfer now considered imminent.

Nijmegen were previously reported to have placed a €20 million price tag on the 22-year-old, but the exact value of Hoffenheim’s latest bid has not been disclosed.

VfB Stuttgart have also been linked with the central midfielder, who is the brother of Mainz and Japan international Kaishu Sano.

TSG Hoffenheim’s imminent sale of Bazoumana Touré to Newcastle United for a reported €50 million may have helped finance the deal.

Hoffenheim have already signed five players this summer: Mats Rots (20), Patrick Wimmer (25), Cajetan Lenz (20), Alessandro Vogt (21) and Sean Dulic (21).