Kim Min-jae, a target for Manchester United, answered the question of whether he may leave Napoli this summer in a telling way.
The 26-year-old South Korean center back played a significant role in Napoli’s successful Serie A title defense this season, which helped his team win the Scudetto for the first time in 33 seasons.
Kalidou Koulibaly left for Chelsea, therefore Kim transferred from Fenerbahce to the Italian giants last summer.
He has started 34 of Napoli’s 37 games, making him one of the stars of the division.
United has been linked to a bid for the center back, and according to a number of publications, Kim has a €58 million release clause that goes into effect between July 1 and July 15 of this summer.
Despite Napoli’s efforts to extend him a new contract, the defender will move to United as soon as the club activates that provision, according to the Italian publication Correire dello Sport.
Erik ten Hag, the manager of United, would score a big victory if the transfer were to go through as he attempts to bolster his defense this summer.
However, the agreement has not yet been finalized, and Kim was questioned by South Korean television about the possibility of a summer move.
Kim on the Napoli and Man Utd rumors
On a TV programme hosted by South Korean TV personality and chef Baek Jong-Won, Kim was directly asked which club he would be playing for in the 2023/24 season.
The defender replied (quote via Calcio Napoli): “My agent is outside the restaurant, ask him!”
The 26-year-old did not commit his future to Napoli, nor did he confirm that he would be moving clubs this summer.
But the reference to his agent could suggest that if clubs do pay his release clause, there may be opening for Kim to join a new club.
And United hope to be at the front of the queue to secure his signature by triggering the clause as early as possible, with Kim potentially joining a centre-back contingent at United that includes Raphael Varane, Lisandro Martinez, Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof.
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