In a recent interview with Football News 24, journalist Luca Cerchione claimed that Manchester United are among the clubs hoping to land Napoli ace Kim Min-jae. Cerchione said,
“If a solution cannot be found, he (Min-jae) could be playing elsewhere already next season: Liverpool and Manchester United are on him, with Paris Saint-Germain that could give him a thought.”
Min-jae’s Impressive Form In Italian Football
Min-jae is experiencing a solid campaign at the Naples club as he has put in a series of dominant performances at the heart of their backline. The South Korean sensation has scored two times and grabbed a couple of assists in 37 appearances for his current club this season across all fronts.
The 26-year-old has been a rock at the back and deserves a lot of credit for averaging 1.6 tackles, 1.1 interceptions and 3.8 clearances per 90 minutes in Serie A. He has even been tidy with his ball distribution after making 90.4% of his attempted passes in league football (stats via whoscored).
Min-jae is under contract at Napoli until the summer of 2025. Thus, it won’t be easy for the Red Devils to win the race for his services at the end of this season.
Is Min-jae A Good Option For Manchester United Head Coach Ten Hag?
Min-jae is a solid tackler of the ball and can sense the danger quickly to earn possession back for his team on the defensive end of the field. He doesn’t mind clearing his lines when the opposition are on the offensive.
Standing at 1.90m, the South Korean sensation can use his strong frame to dominate the opposition attackers in the air. He excels at playing his way out from the back.
We can expect Min-jae to add even more quality to Erik ten Hag’s defence at Old Trafford. He is good enough to rival Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez for a regular starting spot at the Mancunian club. The South Korean international might even serve as a major upgrade over Harry Maguire who has struggled to be consistent for the Red Devils over the past 18 months.
Hence, Kim-jae would be an excellent option for Man United to consider when the transfer window reopens later this year as long as he makes a smooth transition to life in England.
