According to reports in Italy, Manchester United are involved in advanced talks with Napoli defender Kim Min-jae and it looks like the club have finally found a breakthrough. The South Korean centre-back is said to have agreed to personal terms for a move in the summer.
Kim Min-jae has been instrumental to Napoli’s success this season. He helped them win the Scudetto for the first time in a whopping 30 years, since Diego Maradona helped them lift the trophy in 1990. Napoli have been very dominant this season as they won the league with a few matches to spare and a lead of 16 points at the top.
The 26-year-old has featured in 35 games out of 37 in the Serie A for the Azzurri, besides having 4 goal contributions. Nevertheless, the Red Devils will face competition from Tottenham Hotspur and Paris Saint-Germain to secure the player’s services.
According to Italian outlet Il Mattino (via Sport Bible), Manchester United have succeeded in convincing Kim Min-jae to move to Old Trafford this summer. The reports states that the defender has made up his mind and has agreed to join United.
Now, according to TuttoMercatoWeb (via The Sun), the Red Devils are in advanced talks with the Italian champions to sign the Korean centre-back. The report suggests United are very keen to activate his release clause, reportedly between £43million and £52m, and will look to do so within the first fifteen days of July.
Meanwhile, Napoli will accept a bid of around €60 million for the 26-year-old, as reported by Correire dello Sport (via Sport Bible). He only joined Luciano Spalletti’s side last summer after leaving Fenerbahce, but a departure from the Serie A club looks imminent.
Kim Min-Jae AGREES to Manchester United DEAL!📝
▪️Reports from Italy came Kim Min-Jae has decided to join #MUFC. It’s now only a ‘matter of details’. via @mattinodinapoli
📱- https://t.co/MXj3HL7DfZ pic.twitter.com/cgmVQ6itZY
— Terry Flewers (@terryflewers) May 15, 2023
Manchester United looked rock solid with the partnership of Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez at the back. However, injuries to both the players forced Erik ten Hag to use other combinations. Consequently, Harry Maguire was brought back into action and his return did not go as well as he might have wanted.
The Red Devils will be looking to offload Harry Maguire in the summer and bring the South Korean international as his replacement. Moreover, the Dutchman wants to hold onto Victor Lindelof who has performed incredibly well in times of need. That way United will have four great centre-backs – Raphael Varane, Lisandro Martinez, Kim Min-jae, and Victor Lindelof.
Why Manchester United Fans Should be Thrilled for Kim Min-jae?
The 26-year-old defender has a contract with Napoli till the summer of 2025, but United fans won’t have to wait until then if they complete the signing. Kim Min-jae was one of the first names in the starting lineup in Serie A’s meanest defence. He has helped them keep clean sheets on a regular basis this season with his crucial tackles and interceptions.
It’s been a long time since the Red Devils had four world-class centre-backs in their squad. Fans have witnessed how the absence of two key centre-half’s can hurt their whole season even if it is just for a few games, although Luke Shaw has performed incredibly well when called upon to perform the role.
However, with Maguire gone and Kim Min-jae as his replacement, Manchester United fans will certainly be more relaxed knowing that their defence is in good hands. The Korean has all the physical attributes required for a top central defender.,
Kim Min-Jae has the strength to brush off strikers, the pace to fall back and retreat fast and also the flexibility to lunge into tackles fearlessly. Not only this, but he also possesses very good passing skills, which could help United build from the back.
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Manchester United, reportedly, will be offloading multiple players in the upcoming summer transfer window, namely Harry Maguire, Axel Tuanzebe, Phil Jones, Eric Bailly, Anthony Martial, Donny van de Beek, Alex Telles and Scott McTominay.
These transfers could help the Red Devils finance their move for the South Korean centre-back. Signing Kim Min-jae could give Manchester United an edge over their competitors for the preparation for next season.
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