Sky Sports man backs Newcastle to sign Kim Min-jae

Sky Sports presenter Joe Thomlinson has insisted on the Football Daily YouTube channel that Kim Min-jae would be a statement signing for Newcastle United this summer.

The Lowdown: Summer recruitment will be key

Newcastle were unable to bolster their squad sufficiently in the January transfer window with one eye on going bigger in the summer, but if they miss out on the top four, they may need to readdress their transfer strategy.

The Magpies have also not been helped by injuries and suspensions to key players, with the likes of Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton, Joe Willock and Fabian Schar all missing games of late.

If Newcastle want to become a serious competitor at the top end of the Premier League, they will certainly need to recruit some top-class players this summer to take the next step, as there are still several players in their squad who have been in and around the team for a long time now.

The Latest: Kim Min-jae could be an upgrade

Despite Schar and Sven Botman forming a solid partnership, the former is on the wrong side of 30, and Thomlinson believes signing an eventual successor in the form of South Korea international Kim could be a statement of intent from PIF.

Discussing who Newcastle should sign in the summer, he said: “I don’t know whether it’s actually achievable but I’m putting forward Kim Min-jae at Napoli, who, of course, has the release clause that becomes active for six weeks of the summer at about the £40m mark.

“I just think he’s an incredibly gifted centre-back and if Newcastle are being punchy, he’s the type of player who takes them to the next level, a statement signing at centre-back.

“I know he’s playing on the left for Napoli, but he is right-footed so you hope he’d be able to play on the right with Botman on the left. I think if Newcastle beat out a Manchester United or a top team on the continent to Kim Min-jae’s signature, I think a lot of people would be like, ‘wow, that is a big, big signing for them’.

“So, I think more of a statement name but he is incredible. It’s going to be hard to get him out of Napoli.”

The Verdict: Newcastle will look to improve the league’s best defence

While Schar and Botman have done well together this season as they’ve been at the heart of the meanest defence in the Premier League, the Switzerland international is coming off the back of a concussion in recent weeks and is not getting any younger.

Therefore, signing his replacement while he is still capable of being a starter would be smart recruitment from Newcastle and Eddie Howe so that they aren’t left with a problem area when Schar does start to drop off.

We feel Kim would be a top signing judging by the way the South Korean has taken to life in Italy as he looks on course to lift the Serie A title this season, but if the Magpies wish to land him, they’ll have to act quickly in the summer to activate his release clause before teams such as other potential suitors Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United swoop in.