[OSEN=우충원 기자] Kim Min-jae (Napoli) is going to Manchester United. British local media reported that Man Utd rivals Newcastle United have withdrawn from Kim Min-jae.
On the 31st of last month (hereafter Korean time), the Italian Serie A Secretariat announced the final candidates for the league’s best defender through its official social media account. Kim Min-jae was nominated for the category along with Giovanni Di Lorenzo (Napoli) and Theo Hernandez (AC Milan). Kim Min-jae, who transferred to the prestigious Turkiye Fenerbahce in 2021 via Jeonbuk Hyundai’s K-League and China Super League, wore the Napoli outfit last summer. After one season of transfer, Kim Min-jae won the championship of Serie A. He helped the team reach the top. With a solid defense accompanied by Kim Min-jae, Napoli won the Scudetto 33 years after the 1989-1990 season, when the late ‘legend’ Diego Maradona played an active role. Kim Min-jae played in 35 league games this season hitting the ground for 3054 minutes. He recorded 2 goals and 2 assists. He also recorded 1.6 tackles, 1.2 interceptions, 3.5 clearances and 0.7 shot blocks per game.
Based on his performance in Napoli, Kim Min-jae is attracting attention from major European clubs. Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool and Newcastle United were found to want to strengthen their defense by recruiting Kim Min-jae.
However, Kim Min-jae is also more likely to go to Manchester United.
Team Talk reported on the 31st of last month that “Newcastle changed their plans when Manchester United led the race to recruit Kim Min-jae.” Kim Min-jae, the best defender in Serie A this season and the main player in Napoli’s League win, is already heating up the summer transfer market. Kim Min-jae’s contract includes a buy-out clause of at least 50 million euros (70.7 billion won), which is valid from July 1 to 15. At an affordable price for the ransom of one of Europe’s top defenders, Premier League clubs have compete quietly for Kim Min-jae immediately.
It is known that Manchester United sent an active love call to Kim Min-jae from November last year. In addition, Kim Min-jae also gave a positive evaluation of Man Fashion.
Newcastle, who finished fourth in the Premier League last season and progressed to the UEFA Champions League after 21 years, are showing signs of slowing down in the race to recruit Kim Min-jae.
Citing the Daily Mail report, Timtalk explained, “According to credible information, Newcastle are ready to accept the fact that Kim is going to Manchester United and get rid of their current plans.” “The press have confirmed that Newcastle are interested in Kim Min-jae, but they believe that Manchester United are leading the scouting race,” he added.
Therefore, Newcastle seemed to understand the difficulty of recruiting Kim Min-jae and promoting the recruitment of a new defender. The defender chosen as Newcastle’s next best option is Dutch midfielder Per Shurs (Torino), who is active in Italy’s Serie A like Kim Min-jae. Shurs, born in 1999, is considered the next generation of Dutch defenders. Shurs, a 191cm centre-back, is known to have an edge in build-up, recording an 88% pass success rate in the 2022-2023 season.
The British media also make it a fait accompli about Kim Min-jae’s fashion in Manchester.
On the 30th of last month, the Evening Standard reported, “Man Utd have agreed with Napoli on the transfer of Kim Min-jae,” and “Man Utd offered Napoli 50 million pounds (82 billion won) as transfer fee to Kim Min -jae. Napoli accepted Man Utd’s offer.” reported.
Manchester United manager Eric ten Haag is looking to sign an outstanding striker in the transfer market this summer. At the same time, we plan to bring in Kim Min-jae to strengthen our defense. Tottenham’s Harry Kane is the striker with great goal-scoring power, and Kim Min-jae is the defender. Of course, there are alternatives. Man United has been working hard since last year, and Kim Min-jae’s team also wants to play in the English Premier League. In particular, Kim Min-jae’s side want a team confirmed to advance to the UEFA Champions League as a prerequisite. Manchester United won the right to progress to the UCL in the previous round. This means that the required conditions for Kim Min-jae’s recruitment have been met. Meanwhile, the Evening Standard reported, “Man Utd have already agreed personal terms with Kim Min-jae,” and “Kim Min-jae will be Manchester United’s first recruit in the summer transfer market. Kim Min-jae will fly to Manchester next week to complete the transfer.” The situation was also reported. / 10bird@osen.co.kr [사진] ⓒGettyimages (unauthorized reproduction and redistribution prohibited)
Chungwon Woo (10bird@osen.co.kr)
