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Manchester United want to pay the £51m buyout to sign Napoli defender Kim Min-jae amidst Newcastle interest
As per Italian outlet Calciomercato (h/t Daily Mail), Manchester United are willing to pay the £51m buyout clause to sign Napoli centre-back Kim Min-jae amidst Newcastle United’s interest.
United boss Erik ten Hag wants to bolster the defensive department in the summer window, with Min-jae as one of the key targets. Newcastle are in the race too.
The report also reveals that Napoli are looking to sign Atalanta defender Giorgio Scalvini to potentially replace the South Korean international. It shows that the Serie A champions are bracing for the loss of their star player this summer.
Min-jae arrived in Naples last summer from Fenerbahce and played a key role at the back in helping Napoli win the Scudetto after such a long time. He had a decent World Cup with his national team as well.
The 26-year-old is an excellent defender who reads the game well, can make the recovery runs in defensive transition, is aerially strong and does not like getting dribbled past.
If we look at the options United have in central defence, Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez are ahead in the pecking order when both are fit and available.
However, when one or both of them are injured, the likes of Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof are not good enough. Hence, we saw Luke Shaw playing there alongside Varane in some of the games.
What it shows is that United are right to focus on signing a centre-back this summer. Min-jae has the qualities to either be a third option or break the partnership of Varane and Martinez.
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With how good the South Korean is, the buyout clause price is not that high. The Red Devils should pay that before Newcastle nips in.
