MUNICH, GERMANY - APRIL 26: Kim Min-Jae of Bayern Munich arrives at the stadium prior to the Bundesliga match between FC Bayern München and 1. FSV Mainz 05 at Allianz Arena on April 26, 2025 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by S. Mellar/FC Bayern via Getty Images)
Newcastle United are reported to be in the market for a centre-back when the summer transfer window opens, and Bayern Munich’s Kim Min-Jae is being touted as a potential target.
The Magpies are just four fixtures away from sealing their fate in or out of the Champions League qualification spots, but are currently third in the Premier League table and just five points behind Arsenal.
There will be five qualification spots for English teams to grab this season, and the competition is heating up with just seven points separating Nottingham Forest in sixth and Arsenal in second.
Newcastle have already qualified for European football next season with the Conference League confirmed following their Carabao Cup victory over Premier League champions Liverpool last month.
However, they have a huge opportunity to upgrade their experience on the European stage by maintaining their good form and sealing a spot inside the top five over their remaining games.
Qualification for Champions League football will put them in a great position to recruit high-quality players when the transfer window opens, and Paul Mitchell will be responsible for building Eddie Howe a squad that can compete on all fronts to further their ambitions of success.
It has been reported over the weekend that Newcastle remain keen on signing their long-term target, Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi, however, it is noted that he may not be available until 2026 – which is not ideal for the Magpies.
Indeed, Fabian Schar has recently committed to extending his stay on Tyneside for another 12 months, but it will be important for Mitchell to look at the long-term future of the centre-back partnership.
Football Insider are now reporting that Newcastle are working on a deal to sign Bayern Munich star Kim Min-Jae, as Howe is keen to bolster his defensive options ahead of a potential Champions League campaign.
The publication claims that the North East giants are looking to make their interest in the South Korean international with the potential of him bringing a big-game presence and mentality that supporters are crying for.
It is further noted that while Bayern may be reluctant to sell their centre-back, he would likely be available for around £40m.
Should Newcastle sign Kim Min-Jae?
There is no doubt that securing the long-term future of the centre-back partnership is a high priority on Mitchell’s long list of recruitment plans this summer.
Schar is now 33 years old and any decline from him in the coming months without quality back-up would be disastrous for Newcastle if they are serious about competing with the elite both on the European stage and domestically.
Min-Jae – once hailed “extraordinary” by former Manchester United star Park Ji-Sung – boasts a wealth of experience playing top-level football with 79 appearances tallied up for the soon-to-be Bundesliga Champions, with 22 of those in the Champions League since signing in 2023.
Not only that, a £40m would not be out of reach for the Geordies and would not make such a significant dent in their transfer budget this summer, allowing them to bolster other areas of the squad that are also in need of reinvestment without compromising on quality.
With that being said, it will be interesting to see if Newcastle will act upon their interest in Min-Jae, as he would be a great asset for the Magpies in their pursuit to establish themselves in Europe.
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