Kim Min-jae’s transfer rumors are getting hotter by the day. Napoli are preparing to lose one of their most valuable jewels.
Kim Min-jae has been Napoli’s hero this season. He joined the club for a bargain price of €18.05 million and quickly became an integral part of the team’s backline.
He made history. Thanks to Kim’s performance, Napoli won their first Scudetto in 33 years with a commanding 18-point goal difference (after 36 rounds). They also reached the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League (UCL) for the first time in their history.
Numerous clubs are keeping tabs on Kim Min-jae. The most heavily linked is Manchester United. Many local media outlets in Italy, including Tutto Mercato Web, Kiss Kiss Napoli, and Il Matino, have reported that United is in talks with Kim and predicted that Kim will leave Napoli this summer.
Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) also joined the 메이저사이트 fray. The Italian ‘Corriere dello Sport’ reported on the 23rd (below), citing the British ‘The Sun’, that “PSG initiated the first contact and must have already spoken to Kim’s representatives,” and that Kim is interested in PSG.
Both teams have good reason to be interested in Kim. United have built a formidable center-back combination this season in Rafael Varane and Lisandro Martinez, but have struggled to stabilize the backline when they’ve been out of action. With Baran’s frequent injuries, the club is looking to bring in Kim Min-jae to complete the center back line.
The same goes for PSG. PSG is a lock to win the Ligue 1 title again this season, but conceding a goal per game in the league has exposed their defensive insecurities. With no reliable center backs aside from Marquinhos, the club plans to add Kim Min-jae to the roster as another project that will keep them at the top of the UCL.
For his part, Kim is waiting patiently. Because there is a buyout. According to a report by European soccer transfer market expert Fabrizio Romano on July 22, Kim has a release clause of at least 48 million euros ($683 million) for the first 15 days of July. Local media outlets believe the clause could rise to as much as €65 million ($92.5 billion).
Napoli’s struggles have been unsuccessful. According to Giovanni Scotto of Italy’s Il Roma, the club’s president Cristiano Giuntoli has been trying since the beginning of the year to remove Kim Min-jae’s buyout clause, but Kim’s agent has reportedly rejected all the offers.
Romano predicted Kim’s move to Man United. He said, “Man United are really interested in Kim Min-jae. They have been in contact since November. But they can’t trigger the buyout right now. They are talking directly to the player’s side, and they consider Kim Min-jae to be their top target. The negotiations are not over yet.”
The timing of United’s bid could be a factor. If the sale of the club is not completed by July 15, or if it is close to completion, clubs like PSG could swoop in and sign Kim in the meantime.
In conclusion, Napoli are in danger of losing a great resource in Kim Min-jae. “Napoli, the new Italian champions, risk losing one of their most valuable jewels for next season,” the Italian newspaper Persepe Calcio reported on the 23rd, referring to Kim Min-jae’s transfer.
