Napoli's Kim Min-Jae during the warm up before the match
Manchester United reportedly want to sign Napoli defender Kim Min-jae this summer by triggering his €48m (£42m) release clause.
The Lowdown: Kim profiled
Kim is 26 years of age and has gone from strength to strength over the last 18 months, with his Transfermarkt valuation rising from €6.5m to £35m.
Sponsored by Nike, the centre-back has made 30 appearances for Napoli after joining from Fenerbahce in the summer. The South Korea international has been called ‘amazing‘ by members of the media and is nicknamed ‘the Monster‘ due to his 6 foot 3 frame.
The Latest: United interest
Sports Witness relayed an update from Corriere dello Sport regarding United and Kim in the last 48 hours.
They claimed that the Red Devils would like to trigger his 48m (£42m) release clause. However, that clause will only be valid for 15 days in the summer, with Napoli already looking to alter the player’s contract in an extended deal.
The Verdict: Shrewd target
Erik ten Hag could well be on the lookout for further centre-back reinforcements in the summer after signing Lisandro Martinez in his first transfer window in charge at Old Trafford. Harry Maguire has been linked with an exit earlier this year, whereas Victor Lindelof will be entering the final 12 months of his contract.
Therefore, bringing in someone like Kim could be a wise move to rival the likes of Martinez and Raphael Varane. The Napoli man has averaged a WhoScored match rating of 7.11/10 this season, a greater score than all of United’s defenders.
He is averaging close to 80 passes per game with an impressive 90% pass competition, while also making more clearances than any Napoli player.
Therefore, for £42m, a move could be a smart piece of business by Old Trafford chiefs, and potentially one to keep an eye on over the coming months.
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