Arsenal have joined the race to sign Kim Min-jae as Manchester United are closing in on him.
Kim’s stock is soaring. Since arriving in Napoli’s shirt last summer for €18.05 million, he has solidified the team’s defence without any acclimatisation period먹튀검증.
He has made history. Napoli won their first Scudetto in 33 years, dominating their rivals and capping a stunning season by reaching the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League (UCL) for the first time in their history.
A number of clubs are keeping tabs on Kim. The likes of Manchester United, Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) have all been linked with the centre-back at one point or another. A buyout of around 50 million euros ($71.3 billion) seems like a bargain for a centre-back who has dominated Serie A.
The team most heavily involved is Manchester United. Leading local media outlets in Naples, such as Kiss Kiss Napoli and Il Martino, have already reported that United are in talks with Kim Min-jae and have predicted that he will leave Napoli this summer.
And for good reason. United have built a formidable central defensive combination of Rafael Varane and Lisandro Martinez this season, but have struggled to stabilise at the back when they’ve been out of action. With Varane’s age at 30 and increasingly frequent injuries, a potential replacement is also needed.
Transfer pundits have also tipped Kim Min-Jae to join United. According to Fabrizio Romano, a journalist familiar with the European football transfer market, “United are really interested in Kim Min-jae. They have been in contact since November. But they can’t trigger a buyout right now,” he said, predicting that the Red Devils will bring him back via a release clause as soon as July arrives.
Britain’s The Sun put all these reports together and reported on the 26th (below), “Man United are close to signing Kim Min-jae. They are willing to pay a £40 million buyout clause that will be activated in July,” and that Kim is a prime target for manager Eric ten Hagh.
The UK’s Mirror also reported that “Kim Min-jae is close to agreeing a move to Manchester United. Manchester United have agreed a deal to sign Napoli defender Kim Min Jae, who has hinted he is preparing for a move to Old Trafford.”
This is where Arsenal come in. The Gunners were in contention for the title this season behind the performances of William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes, but Saliba’s injury saw the team falter and they eventually lost out to Manchester City at the top of the table, ending their dream of winning the title for the first time in 19 years.
The club are now looking to build on their success next season with solid centre-back reinforcements. The British Express reported on the 26th that “Arsenal and Manchester United have launched a battle for Napoli’s feared ‘best centre-back’ Kim Min-jae. Arsenal are considering Kim as an ideal reinforcement,” and reported that Arsenal have entered the race to sign Kim.
The Gunners are also planning to sell their central defensive resources. “Arsenal have chosen Kim Min-jae as a replacement for Rob Holding,” said the UK’s ‘The Boot Room’ on the 26th. Holding has played for Arsenal since 2016, but has been limited by frequent injuries and a lack of quality as a starter.
England’s interest in Kim has been growing. With Man United the favourites, the arrival of another UCL club, Arsenal, has added to the frenzy surrounding the player.