Report: Bielefeld could cash-in on Okugawa with €5 million relegation exit clause
Germany's main sporting tabloid reports that Japanese attacker Masaya Okugawa has a €5 million release clause in the (likely) event of Arminia Bielefeld's relegation.
Having already turned a profit on Austrian international Patrick Wimmer, very-likely-to-be-relegated Arminia Bielefeld may find itself tempted to flip Japanese attacker Masaya Okugawa for a net gain of around €4 million. Die Arminen were ultimately able to secure Okugawa's services on a permanent basis last summer for between €1 and €2 million.
The 25-year-old has turned in a stellar 2020/21 campaign, leading the team with eight league goals. Okugawa has tallied nine times and contributed a further two assists across all competitions. Germany's "Sport Bild" reports that DSC sporting director Samir Arabi is already planning for the 2. Bundesliga with a budget of between €13 and €15 million.
If a suitable buyer can be found, one can assume that Arabi will not hesitate in cashing in. It has been reported that Okugawa's countryman and former Bielefeld teammate Ritsu Doan is headed back to the Bundesliga with FSV Mainz 05. The pair shared something of a bond when playing together in the Teutoburg Forest, though it remains far from clear that the price tag would interest the Pfälzer.