British media are also reporting that Kim is set to join Manchester United.
Kim has had one of the best seasons in Serie A this season. After leaving Turkiye Fenerbahçe to join the defensive powerhouse that is Italy, Kim was Napoli’s first-choice centre-back for much of the season, helping to secure Napoli’s first league title in 33 years.
Along with the team’s title, he was also awarded the top individual honour. The Serie A secretariat announced on its official channels on 2 February that Kim was named the best defender in Serie A for the 2022-23 season. He was also named to the TOTS (Team of the season) list, which recognises the best team of the season.메이저사이트
Unsurprisingly, many clubs were after him because of his buyout clause. Kim’s buyout clause is valid from 1 to 15 July, when the summer transfer window opens, and while there is no specific amount, it is believed that the buyout is worth €45 million (about $62.7 billion).
Because of this, many clubs have been targeting Kim. Manchester United, Manchester City, Newcastle United, and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) have all expressed interest in Kim. The Red Devils were among the first to show an active interest in the player. They even sent a scout to Napoli, and in the second half of the season, they became more aggressive in their pursuit.
Recently, Kim’s move to United has accelerated. “Kim will go to Man United,” Salvatore Caiaza, one of the most trusted sources for Napoli news, told our partner station ‘Kisses Napoli’ on the 5th. European football transfer market expert Fabrizio Romano also said that United had been interested in Kim Min-jae and had even sent a scout.
On the 7th, Daniele Longo, a journalist working for Italian outlet Calcio Mercato, said, “Kim Min-jae is one step closer to joining Man United.” Not only the Italian media, but also the English media have been confirming Kim Min-jae’s move to Man United. The Daily Mail reported that “Kim has already negotiated a transfer with Man United and is believed to be close to an agreement. Kim has already said goodbye to his Napoli teammates,” confirming his departure from Napoli.
The reason why the locals in England are so confident about Kim’s departure is because of United’s situation. The Red Devils are currently in the process of rebuilding their squad ahead of next season under manager Eric ten Haag. In his first season in charge in 2022-23, United finished third in the league and won the English Football League Cup (EFL Cup). After a successful season, Van Gaal will be looking to sell off surplus resources and bring in new ones next season.
If Kim Min Jae’s move to United goes through, Van Gaal will have even more depth in his squad. Rafael Varane and Lisandro Martinez have been the main centre-back pairing for the Red Devils this season, but both have had injury problems, leaving the club in need of an additional centre-back. With the signing of Kim Min-jae, the Red Devils could have a core line-up of Kim in defence, Casemiro in midfield and Marcus Rashford in attack.
Meanwhile, local reports in England are convinced that the player will leave Napoli for good. According to British outlet The Sun, “Napoli’s Kim Min-jae has bid farewell to the club. He will now take a short break in South Korea and then go to England, not Napoli.” Kim Min-jae arrived in South Korea on the 6th and is taking a short break. On the 15th, he will begin basic military training. After about a month of training, transfer speculation is expected to intensify ahead of next season.