Manchester United may be closing in on their first signing of the summer with reports in Italy claiming that Napoli defender Kim Min-Jae has been ‘convinced’ to ‘accept’ a move to the Red Devils.
When it comes to the Scudetto-winning South Korean, time really is of the essence.
Kim has a £43 million release clause in his contract. However, that only applies until the middle of June, meaning Man United have just one month from today to get the Serie A colossus signing on the dotted line.
Fortunately, according to the Naples-based Il Mattino, things appear to be heading in the right direction.
Is Kim Min-Jae heading to Manchester United
Kim, the report says, has been ‘convinced’ to ‘accept’ Manchester United’s offer. It is, Il Mattino add, only ‘a matter of details’ before the 26-year-old joins Erik ten Hag’s side.
Interestingly, the same intermediaries involved in the Kim deal are now central to discussions regarding Victor Osimhen’s future too, with United potentially well-placed to secure a summer raid on a champagne-soaked Napoli side still wild-eyed in celebration following their first Serie A title in over 30 years.
Interestingly, Il Mattino is not the first publication to suggest that Kim – who has been likened to Virgil van Dijk due to his giant frame and pinpoint diagonal passes – could be on his way to England’s north west.
Both CalcioNapoli24 and FootMercato insist that talks between the defender and Man United are underway. The Red Devils are reportedly willing to hand Kim a substantial salary at Old Trafford too.
“Kim does at least 20 incredible things per game,” Napoli coach Luciano Spaletti said recently of the one-time Everton and Tottenham Hotspur target.
“For me, he truly is the best centre-back in the world. When he starts to run, he can get into the opposition penalty area in five seconds flat.”
‘Best in the world’
One of the most complete central defenders in European football; Kim is likely to act as a long-term replacement to the outstanding but injury-prone Raphael Varane. He is more technically-capable than the Frenchman too, and could form a formidable partnership with the similarly proactive Lisandro Martinez.
“Extraordinary, what a talent,” United legend and fellow Korean Park Ji-Sung tells TMW of Kim.
“There is no doubt that he is doing extraordinary things, as a technical leader and personality in Naples.”
Claims that Man United are progressing in talks for Kim, meanwhile, may suggest that there is a light at the end of a long and winding tunnel regarding the club’s long-awaited takeover.
The Times believe that Sir Jim Ratcliffe is now ‘closer’ to wrestling United out of Glazer control.
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