Manchester United Set Sights On £53m Defender As Ideal Replacement For Maguire

Manchester United are reportedly eyeing up Napoli defender Kim Min-jae as a potential replacement for Harry Maguire, who has found himself on the bench for much of the season.

According to Italian publication Corriere dello Sport, United are willing to pay the £53m release clause required to land the South Korean international.

Maguire, who is now Erik ten Hag‘s fifth-choice centre-back, has been linked with a potential summer exit from Old Trafford, and if he were to depart, United would likely want to recruit a new centre-back to replace him.

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Kim, who only moved to Naples from Fenerbahce last summer for around £17m, has made an instant impact, playing a key role in Napoli’s Serie A title win this season.

However, the 26-year-old defender made headlines for the wrong reasons earlier this year, when he upset fans in South Korea following a poor display for his national team.

Kim publicly apologized for his outburst and is now fully focused on helping Napoli continue their success.

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Kim’s impressive performances have reportedly caught the attention of Manchester United, who are looking to bolster their defence.

The South Korean international could succeed Maguire during the summer transfer window and become a key part of United’s backline.

Everything you need to know about Napoli defender Kim Min-jae who is a target for Manchester United

Napoli defender Kim Min-jae has been making waves in Italian football this season, and it’s no surprise that he’s now reportedly a target for Manchester United. Here’s everything you need to know about the South Korean international:

Background

Kim, who is also known as ‘The Monster’, began his professional career in his native South Korea with Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in 2014. He quickly established himself as a first-team regular, winning three K-League titles and earning himself a reputation as one of the best young defenders in Asia.

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Move to China: In 2019, Kim made the move to Chinese Super League side Beijing Guoan for a fee of around £4.5m. He impressed in his first season in China, scoring four goals in 24 appearances and helping his team to a third-place finish in the league.

Move to Napoli: Kim’s performances caught the eye of Italian side Napoli, who signed him for around £17m in September 2020. He quickly became a regular in the team and has been a key player in their Serie A title-winning campaign this season.

Playing Style: At 6’3″, Kim is an imposing presence at the back, but he’s not just a physical defender. He’s comfortable on the ball and boasts a superb passing accuracy of 91%. He’s also a threat in the opposition box, having scored three goals for Napoli this season.

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Off-Field Issues

Kim made headlines earlier this year when he upset fans in South Korea following a poor display for his national team. He publicly apologized for his outburst and has since been focused on helping Napoli continue their success.

Manchester United Target

Kim’s impressive performances have reportedly caught the attention of Manchester United, who are said to be willing to pay his £53m release clause to bring him to Old Trafford.

He could be the ideal replacement for Harry Maguire, who has found himself on the bench for much of this season. If he were to make the move, he would become the first South Korean to play for Manchester United.

Would Kim Min-jae be a good signing for Manchester United? Give us your verdict in the comments section below.