Manchester United’s biggest rival, Liverpool, is also eyeing the ‘monster’ Kim Min-jae (27, Naples).
Liverpool.com, which mainly deals with Liverpool news, predicted on the 21st 안전놀이터(Korean time) that Liverpool, the English powerhouse, could be interested in Kim Min-jae.
The reason is that Liverpool’s centre-back problems are emerging. They have Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate, who are considered world-class center backs, but the two have been plagued by frequent injuries. I can’t think of Van Dyke’s age, and Konate also had a colon due to large and small injuries. That’s not to say the back-up isn’t strong either. Joe Gomez still hasn’t thrown away the title of ‘perennial prospect’. The future of Yoel Matip and Net Phillips is also uncertain. Rumor has it that he will be leaving the team this coming summer.
Liverpool are in need of a major generational change. The decrepit midfield line is considered the biggest problem, but it is also necessary to reinforce the center back.
While Liverpool is expected to spend a lot of money this summer, Kim Min-jae’s transfer fee is relatively cheap, which is more attractive. The media explained, “Kim Min-jae has a buyout clause of 43 million pounds (about 69 billion won).
Kim Min-jae will be subject to a buyout clause of 43 million pounds for about 15 days from July. This is a special provision that only applies to overseas clubs. Positive for Liverpool. A buyout is a clause in which a transfer can proceed without the consent of the affiliated team if the other team pays more than the standard amount. Napoli, which is famous for protecting its key players, has no way to stop the move.
You just have to win the recruiting battle. Just as Liverpool is interested, many big clubs are interested in signing Kim Min-jae. According to reports, Manchester United and Tottenham, who belong to the same Premier League, are also considered candidates for signing. Manchester United are also Liverpool’s biggest rivals. I don’t know about other teams, but if Kim Min-jae is lost to Manchester United, the blow will be even greater.
Kim Min-jae played in 26 league games this season and showed off solid defense in every game. He also scored 2 goals with a header. Whoscored.com, a European soccer statistics site, gave Kim Min-jae the highest rating of 7.25 among Serie A center backs. Thanks to this, Napoli had a chance to win the league title for the first time in 33 years since 1990. In addition, Kim Min-jae also played an impregnable defense in the European Champions League of ‘War of the Stars’. He is regarded as one of the best centre-backs in Europe beyond Serie A.
In fact, Napoli coach Luciano Spalletti highly praised Kim Min-jae as one of the best defenders in the world.