It’s clear that Man Utd are serious about signing ‘monster’ Kim Min-jae (Napoli).
Reports have been pouring in every day. European soccer transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has once again raised the possibility of a United move. Known as “Here We Go,” Romano is one of the most authoritative voices on international soccer transfers. He told GiveMeSports on Nov. 23 (KST), “United have been pursuing the player since October last year. They have been sending scouts to Italy to keep an eye on Kim Min-jae,” he reported. They have been observing Kim for seven months. “We have already been negotiating to sign him for several months스포츠토토,” he explained. TeamTalk also supported the possibility of Kim joining Man United. “While United are in the midst of a takeover, manager Eric van Gaal is looking to execute the second phase of his rebuilding plan,” it said. “Van Gaal has made three big signings. He wants a striker and a midfield defender,” and that defender is Kim Min-jae. “It looks like United are taking positive steps to sign Kim Min-jae,” Timetalk said.
On the 24th, Ben Jacobs of CBS Sports in the United States reported that Kim could join United if he becomes a regular starter. “Kim, who turns 27 in November, will want to start regularly if he joins United. That’s the only problem for United,” he said. “If the combination of Lisandro Martinez and Rafael Varane is still solid, it could be difficult to replace. However, Kim Min-jae’s performances have been so strong that he could save his starting spot. This is why he is called a ‘monster’.”
Kim Min-jae has been a hot commodity this summer. Forbes, an American business magazine, published an article titled ‘Man Utd’s target Kim Min-jae is this summer’s bargain’. ‘Kim’s buyout would be about the 10th highest ever for a center back in the English Premier League, but it would be a good deal considering his value,’ Forbes said. “He has good aerial competitiveness and can intercept the ball. He also has the passing ability to build up.” “He is entering his prime as a defender. He needs very little time to adapt to the English game. He even has military service benefits. It’s not a risky move to sign him.
As Forbes put it. Kim Min-jae has been one of the best defenders this season. Napoli won their first league title in 33 years. It was the third time Napoli had won the title since the 1986-1987 and 1989-1990 seasons, when the late legend Diego Maradona played. At the center of it all was Kim Min-jae. The first South Korean to win a Scudetto, Kim Min-jae was the centerpiece of the team throughout the season. When ‘Legend’ Koulibaly left for Chelsea, he was brought in as a replacement and quickly became the centerpiece of the team. In September of last year, he was named Serie A Player of the Month. He was the first Asian player to be named Serie A Player of the Month since the 2019-2020 season.
With Kim at the center of the defense, Napoli conceded the fewest goals in the league this season. In a particularly aggressive Luciano Spalletti style of play, Kim has done a remarkable job with his aggressive defense. He was praised by legends such as Fabio Cannavaro and Alexandro Costacurta. His performances were so fantastic that there is a debate about him being the best center back in the world beyond Italy. He’s in Napoli’s all-time best 11, and unsurprisingly, he’s been nominated for Serie A Team of the Year this season. He’s a shoo-in to win the award.
His incredible performances have kept him on the radar of big clubs throughout the season, making him even more valuable. He has been linked to Man City, Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, Liverpool, Tottenham, and other big clubs, but recently, Man United have been the most active. European media outlets have been reporting, “United are stepping up their pursuit of Kim Min-jae. They could pay a buyout,” according to reports.
France’s Foot Mercato reported that ‘United have held talks with Kim Min-jae’ and that ‘United will offer the star striker a much higher salary than he is receiving at Napoli’. ‘United have been in contact with Kim since the World Cup,’ said Tuttomercato in Italy, ‘and will try to sign him for an amount above his buyout in June, ahead of July when the buyout is activated. Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano recently appeared on a YouTube channel dedicated to United news and said, “Kim Min-jae is definitely a player that United are watching. They have already sent scouts several times.”
On the 16th, Italian media outlet Il Matino reported that it was “just a matter of fine-tuning”. ‘Man United are close to signing Kim Min-jae,’ Il Matino said, adding that ‘the club’s hierarchy and his agent have also convinced him to accept a move to Man Utd. A few days later, it was reported that ‘United have found a villa in Alderley Edge, England, for Kim to live in’. Alderley Edge, located in the Cheshire region near Manchester, England, is where Park Ji-sung (42-retired) lived from 2005 to 2012. However, Kim Min-jae’s side drew a line in the sand. “There has been no concrete contact,” said Kim Min-jae’s representative, adding, “The 2022-2023 season is not over yet. The player was only focused on winning the league this season. He was not swayed by the rumors, and we decided not to move until the end of the season. Now that we’ve won the title, we’ll wait and see,” he said. “We are aware that United are interested,” he continued, “but it would be difficult for them to move quickly as they are currently in the middle of a takeover. On top of that, United have yet to confirm their Champions League participation.”
However, it is a fact that United want Kim Min-jae. United have shown signs of life under Van Gaal this season. They won the League Cup and reached the FA Cup final. They also qualified for the Champions League. The Red Devils will be looking to add to their roster again next season and get closer to the title. While the front line is urgent, the central defense is also in need.