Kodai Sano was the subject of interest from clubs in the Premier League, the Bundesliga, and the top three from the Eredivisie. Four clubs, including some from the Premier League and Bundesliga, submitted an offer for Sano. NEC turned down a bid of twenty million euros for the midfielder. Marcel Boekhoorn informed Carlos Albers that under no circumstances should the Japanese midfielder leave this winter. According to Carlos Albers, at the end of the transfer window, Boekhoorn told them that a transfer was not desired, even if a doubled offer was made. Albers stated that a transfer for Sano in the summer appears inevitable and that the club wants to cooperate on a good transfer for him, but the timing was not right at present. Albers said NEC will offer Sano a top transfer in the upcoming summer.

Voetbalprimeur.nl reported that NEC has enlisted the help of super agent Jorge Mendes to facilitate an outgoing transfer for Kodai Sano. The report also states that Feyenoord, PSV, and Ajax are all said to have previously expressed interest in the Japanese player.

Wilco van Schaik, general director of NEC, expects Kodai Sano to finish the season in Nijmegen. According to Van Schaik, Sano wants to go to the World Cup and can play every week at NEC, whereas if he went to a Premier League or a top club, he would need to adapt again and cannot risk being on the bench for ten to fifteen matches. There is concrete interest in Kodai Sano. Van Schaik declined to comment on possible amounts for Sano, but stated it is a very high amount. He previously announced that he is not willing to negotiate a transfer for Sano for twenty million euros. Van Schaik mentioned that Guido Albers made a comment on TV about twenty million, but NEC is not willing to take any action regarding it at the moment.

Transfer journalist Florian Plettenberg reports that Mainz 05 is interested in 22-year-old Japanese NEC midfielder Kodai Sano. According to Plettenberg, Mainz sees Sano as a potential replacement for his brother Kaishu Sano, who may leave in January. It is currently unknown if Kodai Sano is open to a move to Germany. Sano, who joined NEC in August 2023, has a contract until June 2028. In the current Eredivisie season, he has made 17 appearances, with one goal and three assists. The midfielder has one cap for Japan, and his market value is listed by Transfermarkt as €6.00m. PSV and Ajax have also been linked with Sano.