Man Utd’s intentions to sign ‘monster’ Kim Min-jae (Napoli) are clear.
Reports are pouring in every day. European soccer transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has once again raised the possibility of a move to United. Known as “Here We Go,” Romano is one of the most authoritative voices on international soccer transfers. He told GiveMeSports on Nov. 23 (KST), “United have been pursuing the player since October last year. They have been sending scouts to Italy to keep an eye on Kim Min-jae,” he reported. They have been observing Kim for seven months. “We have already been negotiating to sign him for several months,” he explained. TeamTalk also supported the possibility of Kim joining Man United. “While United are in the midst of a takeover, manager Eric van Gaal is looking to execute the second phase of his rebuilding plan,” it said. “Van Gaal has made three big signings. He wants a striker and a midfield defender,” and that defender is Kim Min-jae. “It looks like United are taking positive steps to sign Kim Min-jae,” Timetalk said.
On the 24th, Ben Jacobs of CBS Sports in the United States reported that Kim could join United if he becomes a regular starter. “Kim, who turns 27 in November, will want to start regularly if he joins United. That’s the only problem for United,” he said. “If the combination of Lisandro Martinez and Rafael Varane is still solid, it could be difficult to replace. However, Kim Min-jae’s performances have been so strong that he could save his starting spot. This is why he is called a ‘monster’.”
Kim Min-jae has been a hot commodity this summer. Forbes, an American business magazine, published an article titled ‘Man Utd’s target Kim Min-jae is this summer’s bargain’. ‘Kim’s buyout would be about the 10th highest ever for a center back in the English Premier League, but it would be a good deal considering his value,’ Forbes said. “He has good aerial competitiveness and can intercept the ball. He also has the passing ability to build up.” “He is entering his prime as a defender. He needs very little time to adapt to the English game. He even has military service benefits. It’s not a risky move to sign him.
As Forbes put it. Kim Min-jae has been one of the best defenders this season. Napoli won their first league title in 33 years. It was the third time Napoli had won the title since the 1986-1987 and 1989-1990 seasons, when the late legend Diego Maradona played. At the center of it all was Kim Min-jae. The first South Korean to win a Scudetto, Kim Min-jae was the centerpiece of the team throughout the season. When ‘Legend’ Koulibaly left for Chelsea, he was brought in as a replacement and quickly became the centerpiece of the team. In September of last year, he was named Serie A Player of the Month. He was the first Asian player to be named Serie A Player of the Month since the 2019-2020 season.
With Kim at the center of the defense, Napoli conceded the fewest goals in the league this season. In a particularly aggressive Luciano Spalletti style of play, Kim has done a remarkable job with his aggressive defense. He was praised by legends such as Fabio Cannavaro and Alexandro Costacurta. His performances were so fantastic that there is a debate about him being the best center back in the world beyond Italy. He’s in Napoli’s all-time best 11, and unsurprisingly, he’s been nominated for Serie A Team of the Year this season. He’s a shoo-in to win the award.
His incredible performances have kept him on the radar of big clubs throughout the season, making him even more valuable. He has been linked to Man City, Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, Liverpool, Tottenham, and other big clubs, but recently, Man United have been the most active. European media outlets have been reporting, “United are stepping up their pursuit of Kim Min-jae. They could pay a buyout,” according to reports.
France’s Foot Mercato reported that ‘United have held talks with Kim Min-jae’ and that ‘United will offer the star striker a much higher salary than he is receiving at Napoli’. ‘United have been in contact with Kim since the World Cup,’ said Tuttomercato in Italy, ‘and will try to sign him for an amount above his buyout in June, ahead of July when the buyout is activated. Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano recently appeared on a YouTube channel dedicated to United news and said, “Kim Min-jae is definitely a player that United are watching. They have already sent scouts several times.”
On the 16th, Italian media outlet Il Matino reported that it was “just a matter of fine-tuning”. ‘Man United are close to signing Kim Min-jae,’ Il Matino said, adding that ‘the club’s hierarchy and his agent have also convinced him to accept a move to Man Utd. A few days later, it was reported that ‘United have found a villa in Alderley Edge, England, for Kim to live in’. Alderley Edge, located in the Cheshire region near Manchester, England, is where Park Ji-sung (42-retired) lived from 2005 to 2012. However, Kim Min-jae’s side drew a line in the sand. “There has been no concrete contact,” said Kim Min-jae’s representative, adding, “The 2022-2023 season is not over yet. The player was only focused on winning the league this season. He was not swayed by the rumors, and we decided not to move until the end of the season. Now that we’ve won the title, we’ll wait and see,” he said. “We are aware that United are interested,” he continued, “but it would be difficult for them to move quickly as they are currently in the middle of a takeover. On top of that, United have yet to confirm their Champions League participation.”
But it’s a fact that United want Kim Min-jae. United showed signs of life this season with Van Gaal at the helm. They won the League Cup and reached the FA Cup final. They also qualified for the Champions League. The Red Devils will be looking to add to their roster again next season and get closer to the title. While the front line is the most pressing need, the central defense is also in need of reinforcement. Baran and Martinez are the mainstays, with Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof, and others as backups, but they all have their problems. Injuries are common, especially in the front line. United are looking to bolster their center back line by getting rid of Maguire, Lindelof, and others. They want to bring in Kim Min-jae to give them a more solid center back line.
The Red Devils would like to finalize the signing of a proven center back early. Wallflower center backs are becoming increasingly rare. Kim has already proven himself in the Champions League. Even in the star-studded Champions League, no striker has broken through. However, the situation is complicated. The buyout exists. Kim inserted a buyout clause when he joined Napoli last summer. ‘There is a buyout clause in Kim’s contract that allows him to leave Napoli this summer,’ said Areanapoli. It is a very real risk for president Aurelio De Laurentiis. ‘Kim can exercise the option for two weeks from July 1 to 15 to leave the club freely (abroad only). He is under contract until 2025.” “The buyout price could range from €45 million to €60 million. The price is linked to a parameter on the turnover of the buyer.
A buyout would be the winner of the battle for Kim Min-jae. Given his performances this season, it’s a relatively low price to pay, which is why Man United aren’t the only ones keeping tabs on him. Newcastle have also entered the fray. Newcastle was acquired by the Saudi sovereign wealth fund in 2021, making it the richest club in the world. The Saudi sovereign wealth fund is worth $500 billion. It makes Man City owner Sheikh Mansour, the “symbol of wealth,” look small. Despite not making the splashy signings you’d expect, Newcastle have been a league-changer this season with signings like Aitoran. They currently sit in third place. They’re in the hunt for a Champions League spot. According to The Hardtackle, Newcastle are preparing to part ways with Jamaal Lascelles. They are looking at Kim Min-jae as an alternative. The €56 million buyout wouldn’t be a problem for Newcastle. They have more money to spend than United.
Recently, the name of Paris Saint-Germain has been mentioned. According to RMC Sport in France, “Kim Min-jae has become a target for Paris Saint-Germain. The club’s president, Luis Campos, appreciates both his technical and mental abilities. Campos and the player’s agent have already been in contact. Paris Saint-Germain is also a club with money to burn. They are in need of a replacement for Sergio Ramos, so they could be in the running for Kim Min-jae.메이저사이트
Reports of a move to Manchester United continue, but nothing has been finalized. Kim Min-jae’s camp is smiling. “The qualification of each league for the Champions League has not been decided, and the schedule for this season’s Champions League has not been finalized. Depending on the results, things can change quickly,” he says. “It’s likely that the big clubs are watching. We don’t like to move fast either.” The options are likely to grow as time goes on. Liverpool, Chelsea, and Man City have already expressed interest in Kim, either directly or indirectly.
In the end, the picture will not be clear until June. Kim Min-jae plans to undergo military training in June. After the military training is over, the real action is expected to begin. Kim Min-jae’s camp also sees this as a key moment. The atmosphere is already hot. It was the same last summer, but this time on a larger scale. Season 2 of the Kim Min-jae saga is off to a great start.