Mizgan Masani
Reports in Italy claim that Kim Min-jae to Manchester United is practically a done deal
As per Italian outlet II Mattino (h/t Manchester Evening News), Manchester United are very close to signing Napoli and South Korean defender Kim Min-jae in the summer transfer window.
Min-jae’s contract with this season’s Serie A champions Napoli lasts until 2025 (Transfermarkt). He arrived in Naples from Turkish side Fenerbahce last summer and played a crucial role at the back in helping Luciano Spalletti’s men to win the Scudetto.
The report revealed that there was a £45m buyout clause in the player’s contract which attracted the attention of some of the top clubs in Europe – Manchester United being one of them.
Although there are suggestions that Red Devils would want to include Victor Lindelof in a deal to sign Min-jae, Napoli and their president Aurelio di Laurentiis would prefer cash. Keeping the buyout clause money in mind, United will have to pay that to get Min-jae.
While Erik ten Hag stuck with his first-choice centre-back pairing of Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez for the most of the season before both got injured, he could do with more options next season as United close in on Champions League participation.
Irrespective of what happens with Lindelof’s future, one would think that Harry Maguire may want to leave the club in the summer having been dropped by ten Hag for the majority of the games.
Min-jae has all the attributes to come to Old Trafford and become an integral part of the United defence. Ten Hag can either play alongside Varane or Martinez or play all of them in a back three and release Luke Shaw and Diogo Dalot to bomb forward respective wing-back positions.
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Whatever the doubts are regarding this deal, United should make sure to sign the South Korean if he is willing to come.
