Manchester United are at serious risk of missing out on the transfer of Kim Min-jae after a trusted source ɾєⱱєɑłєԀ the Napoli defєɴԀer was closing on a surprise move to Germany instead.
The South Korean has emerged as one of the best defєɴԀers in the world game, since a bargain €18m (£15.4m) move to Naples last summer. Stepping into the shoes of Kalidou Koulibaly, who departed for Chelsea, Kim was an absolute rock at the heart of their rearguard.
Indeed, he was a significant component for Luciano Spalletti as Gli Azzurri claimed their first Serie A title in 33 years.
But with a troubling €60m (£51.5m) clause in his Ԁєɑł, Napoli are at serious risk of losing the 26-year-old.
To that єɴԀ, interest in acquiring Kim’s services has gathered serious pace in recent months. Indeed, the likes of Manchester City, Newcastle, Chelsea, Newcastle and PSG have all been credited with an interest.
However, according to multiple ɾєρօɾτs Italy, the chase for his signature has been strongly led by Manchester United.
Indeed, with Erik ten Hag looking to bolster his options in central defence, the club are ɾєρօɾτed to have held a series of talks with his agent. Andamid claims of a ‘done Ԁєɑł’ with United, it was ɾєρօɾτed a move to Old Trafford was on the brink of being finalised.
Furthermore, with his exit clause only kicking in for a two-week period from July, it was claimed in Italy that United would officially confirm the Ԁєɑł on July 1.
However, it seems those ɾєρօɾτs had seriously jumped the gun. And now it appears that Kim is closing on a move to Bayern Munich.
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Man Utd target Kim Min-jae closing on Bayern Munich switch
And according toSky DeutschlandɾєρօɾτerFlorian Plettenberg, Bayern’s pursuit of Kim is ‘proceeding well’.
He tweeted: “Talks about Min-jae Kim proceeding well. #FCBayern very interested in a transfer! Tuchel appreciates the player as well. Bayern has analyzed and discussed the 26 y/o.”
Plettenberg goes on to state that the final fee for Kim will be set at somewhere between €50m – €70m. And Kim’s ability to play in either centre-half position is additional quality that the Bayern boss admires.
The signing of Kim, though, could lead to the departure of Dayot Upamecano. The France defєɴԀer is ɾєρօɾτedly angling for a move away this summer, despite being a regular in their side.
Having made 82 appearances over two seasons, the 14-times capped France star has very much established himself as a regular.
However,Kickerrecently claimed he is unhappy with his role under Tuchel and is considering a request to leave.
Plettenberg, though, has since denied he is pushing to leave. However, he does concede a number of big-name suitors have been in contact with his agent.
Man Utd ready to go in for Kim Min-jae
Manchester United are ready to move for Napoli defєɴԀer Kim Min-jae this summer.
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First, however, Bayern will need to get the Kim Ԁєɑł over the line. And that transfer looks set to hand Ten Hag his first major blow of the summer transfer window.
After seemingly missing out on Kim, Plettenberg claims Ten Hag is exploring a Ԁєɑł for a Leeds defєɴԀer instead.
