The president of Italian first-division club Calcio Catania said Sunday he is willing to sign Japanese striker Takayuki Morimoto on a permanent deal. Antonio Pulvirenti said he has already made a written offer on the matter to J-League second-division side Tokyo Verdy, who have the rights to 19-year-old Morimoto, who joined Catania on a one-year loan deal last summer. Morimoto impressed by scoring a goal on his Serie A debut in Catania's 1-1 draw away to Atalanta in late January. He ruptured ligaments in his left knee during practice in March and underwent surgery, missing the rest of the season.
