There is a lot of interest in Europe to see if Kim will choose Manchester United or Bayern Munich.
He was one of Napoli’s best performers last season and has become a hot commodity. He is a complete center back with great defensive abilities, build-up play, and forward movement. He was at the center of Napoli’s 33-year run to win the Italian Serie A title and reach the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League (UCL) for the first time in their history.
He swept the individual awards. First, he was named to the Italian Serie A Team Of The Season (TOTS) for the 2022-23 season. On top of that, he was named Best Defender, winning every award a defender can win. Having shown what he was capable of at Napoli, Kim wanted to move on. Several teams approached him, but Manchester United seemed to be the favorite.
Manchester United are after Kim. Having improved markedly under Eric ten Haag, United are looking to strengthen their squad this summer with the addition of a center back and a striker. The first option at center back is Kim Min-Jae. He would add to a solid defense that already includes Lisandro Martinez and Rafael Varane. They have already parted ways with Phil Jones and are reportedly in the process of releasing Harry Maguire. It seems that they are in the process of making room for Kim Min-jae.
As the terms of the deal were being worked out, it looked like a move to Manchester United was a foregone conclusion, but then Munich entered the picture. European transfer market expert Fabrizio Romano said: “Munich presented their project to Kim this week and an agreement on personal terms is now imminent. The talks have progressed quickly and the player has been convinced by Munich. Manchester United’s interest in the player remains, but has not been fulfilled. The buyout clause will be triggered in July.”
Florian Platenberg of Germany’s Sky Sports also reported, “Munich have a verbal agreement with Kim Min-jae. However, it is not yet finalized. A decisive move is expected after the A-match. Talks with the player’s agent are ongoing and the mood is positive. The board of directors of the Bavarians highly appreciates his profile and mental strength. A buyout for Munich is understood to be less than €60 million.”
The Bavarians need a center back to play alongside Mathias De Ligt and Dayot Upamecano. With Benjamin Pavard and Lucas Hernandez likely to leave the club, the need for a top-notch center back is urgent. This seems to be the reason why they are actively approaching Kim Min-jae. Munich boss Thomas Tuchel is familiar with the South Korean, having worked with Park Joo-ho and Koo Ja-cheol.안전놀이터
With the odds suddenly stacked against him, attention is now turning to where he really wants to go next. Munich and United fans, as well as the rest of Europe, have been keeping an eye on Kim Min-jae’s next destination. “Allianz Arena (Munich’s home stadium) or Old Trafford (Man Utd’s home stadium)? Munich and Man Utd are interested in Kim Min-jae. Which team will Kim Min-jae play for next season?”
The U.S. publication Forbes also weighed in. “Munich are looking for a center back as Hernandez and Fabregas could leave, and they are interested in Kim Min-jae. They have enough money to sign him. It’s only a matter of time before he moves to Munich. He”d be the perfect replacement for Hernandez and Fabregas. They could outbid United and have the best defense on the market.”