Squirrel Interest In Kikuchi?

The Sponichi website is reporting that Omiya are among several clubs interested in signing former Jubilo Iwata midfielder Naoya Kikuchi, who has come to the end of his contract with German side Jena. There was talk recently of a move for Kikuchi to major Bundesliga outfit Schalke 04, but it would seem that talks stalled at the contract stage. Sponichi suggest that JEF United, Vissel Kobe and Consadole Sapporo are currently keen on the 24 year old.

Kikuchi made his J-League debut for Jubilo as a teenager in 2003 and the following year was a member of Japan's unsuccessful Olympic squad. Most people know him, however, as the result of an incident of the reported rape of a 15-year-old schoolgirl in June 2007, which resulted in his being sacked by Iwata. He was suspended for a year by the JFA, performed several months of community service and then moved to Germany and Jena.

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