by NOT JAE TALKING
MANCHESTER UNITED’S pursuit of Napoli centre back Kim Min-Jae is not close, according to the player’s agent.
The South Korean international, 26, has shone brightly in Napoli’s defence, helping them to their first Serie A title in 33 years.
Napoli’s star man Kim Min-jae is a long-term target for Man Utd
The Italian giants only signed Kim a season ago from Turkish side Fenerbahce in a deal worth just £15million.
That would leave them counting a healthy profit, with the defender set to be sold for between £42m and £53m.
According to the agent, the Red Devils have been “interested in Kim since he was in China”.
However, Kim’s party have not received a concrete contract offer and are in no rush to conclude a deal.
Earlier this week, it was claimed United had submitted a colossal proposal to the star.
Kim has made 43 appearances for Napoli in all competitions this season, scoring and assisting twice and would be a welcome addition to the United backline.
Erik ten Hag’s side currently sit fourth in the Premier League with a drastically worse goal difference than Newcastle in third and Liverpool in fifth.
Napoli on the other hand, boast the best goal difference in the Serie A standings – a whopping +16 above the rest of the league.
Napoli could be in line to sell many stars this summer with Europe’s elite hounding £115m-rated Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen.
Georgian sensation Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and midfielder Piotr Zielinski are also rumoured to be targets of top clubs in the Premier League off the back of Napoli’s impressive season.
Arsenal will be hoping the deal can still go through as they could be in-line for a pay-day with former defender Konstantinos Mavropanos linked with a move to Naples to replace Kim.
Arsenal have a 10 per cent sell-on clause included in the Greek defender’s contract which could land the Gunners a multi-million pound windfall should he move to Italy.
