According to Calciomercato, Manchester United is reportedly in discussions with the agent of Napoli defender Kim Min-jae regarding a potential transfer during the summer.
The club has been consistently linked with the South Korean player, and it is now believed that they have engaged in talks about a contract worth €7 million per year.
United has already held multiple meetings with Min-jae’s representative, and the 26-year-old is said to be inclined to accept a move to Old Trafford.
There is a foreign release clause valued at €60 million in the defender’s contract, which will become active during the first 15 days of July. The article suggests that Min-jae’s future is increasingly leaning towards United, as the club is prepared to activate the buy-out clause.
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The defender had an impressive debut season with Napoli, contributing to 16 clean sheets in 35 appearances as the team secured the Serie A title.
The 26-year-old defender had an impressive passing accuracy of 91 per cent, completing an average of 73 passes per game. He also demonstrated strong defensive abilities with an average of 1.6 tackles, 3.5 clearances, and winning 4.6 duels.
Hence, signing Min-jae for his release clause would be a wise move for the Red Devils. Given his age, he could potentially become a key player for the club for at least five seasons.
Although Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez are currently the preferred centre-backs, Varane’s history of injuries may lead the manager to handle him more cautiously in the upcoming season.
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This could provide Min-jae with opportunities to establish himself as a starter and receive significant playing time.
While United appears confident in signing Min-jae, they are also considering alternative targets such as Benjamin Pavard and Goncalo Inacio.
Pavard has reportedly rejected a new contract from Bayern Munich, as his priority is to play as a centre-back. Meanwhile, Inacio has declined an improved deal that would increase his release clause to €45 million.
