Kim Min-jae, the South Korean centre-back playing for Napoli, has reportedly opened the door to Liverpool amid rumors linking him with Tottenham and Manchester United. The 26-year-old was signed by Napoli during last summer’s transfer window for around €18m and has since distinguished himself as one of the best defenders in Serie A. His outstanding performance has caught the eye of several Premier League clubs.
Liverpool, in particular, is expected to overhaul their squad this summer and may look to add Min-jae as a new centre-back to their team. This is due to the criticism that Virgil Van Dijk and Joe Gomez have faced this season. Min-jae’s representatives have ‘opened the door to Liverpool’ as they prepare for his future. They are reportedly ‘very interested’ in the defender, who is currently focused on doing well for Napoli in the final months of the 2022/23 campaign.
Min-jae’s current contract includes a €43m exit clause, but Napoli is rumoured to be interested in removing or raising the release clause to €90m via a contract extension. Nevertheless, a move to Liverpool cannot be overlooked, and the report ominously points out that the ‘soap opera has only just begun.’
Last month, journalist Ben Jacobs claimed that Liverpool and Tottenham had a ‘slight advantage’ over Manchester United in the race to sign Min-jae due to the player’s age; he is 26 years old and would want regular and immediate game time. Tottenham is another club that has scouted the player and looks to bring in a starting centre-back, just as Liverpool.
Min-jae could be a valuable asset to any Premier League club looking for a reliable defender at a reasonable price. His form has been consistently good, and his age and experience make him an attractive prospective addition to any team. If Liverpool intends to sign the player, they may need to factor in his release clause or outmaneuver the other clubs in the race to sign him. Regardless, it will be interesting to see how this transfer saga unfolds in the coming months.
.jpeg?resize=150,150){kind=spacer}
