The possibility of Kim Min-jae (28) leaving Bayern Munich is becoming concrete. As mistakes and declining condition overlap, his position within the team is shaky, and Bayern Munich is considering selling him in the summer transfer market.
Fussballtransfers reported on the 19th (Korean time) that "Bayern Munich is looking for a new defensive leader, and Kim Min-jae is struggling with an Achilles problem" and that "after repeating recent mistakes, Bayern Munich is prepared to sell Kim Min-jae for 50 million euros (81.1 billion won) or a lower amount."
Fussballtransfers explained that Chelsea and Newcastle have already been in substantial negotiations with Kim Min-jae's side, and Juventus is also mentioned as a potential target.
In particular, follow-up reports suggest that Kim Min-jae himself is open to a transfer.
Footmercato reported that "Kim Min-jae has spent two years at Bayern Munich and is considering a summer transfer. In addition to Chelsea and Newcastle, several Premier League clubs have contacted his agent," and that "Kim Min-jae prefers to enter a new league, especially the Premier League."
Sky Sports Germany's Florian Plettenberg stated that "the possibility of Kim Min-jae's summer transfer is sufficient. Chelsea, Newcastle, and Juventus are showing actual interest, and demand is forming in the market."
Christian Falk explained that "Bayern is seeing that it can sell Kim Min-jae for 50 million euros and is considering Dean Huys, as a substitute resource," adding that "Huys has a 60 million euro (97.3 billion won) buyout clause, and funding can be secured through the sale of Kim Min-jae."
Plettenberg added that "Kim Min-jae is no longer classified as an untouchable player. Bayern does not have a proactive selling intention, but will allow a transfer if a reasonable offer comes in," and that "if Kim Min-jae leaves, Bayern Munich plans to reinvest, while if he stays, they will prepare for the next season with the existing defensive resources."
Kim Min-jae is currently contracted until 2028, but he is struggling to maintain the club's full trust due to a decline in performance and repeated mistakes.
Sky Sports Germany evaluated that "Kim Min-jae was unable to fully reproduce the performance from his time at Napoli at Bayern. He did not provide the expected stability in his second season and recorded a total of six mistakes."
Kim Min-jae started in the 29th round of the league against Dortmund, effectively controlling Serou Guirassy in the first half but allowed a header goal in the early second half to Maximilian Beyer. After this goal, criticism concentrated, and the match ended in a 2-2 draw.
Max Eberl, the Director General of Bayern Munich, mentioned that "Kim Min-jae lost track of his opponent in that situation, which led to the goal. He defended well in the first half, but he is likely aware of that scene."
Subsequently, Kim Min-jae was also identified as one of the reasons for the team's elimination from the UEFA Champions League due to repeated mistakes in the Inter Milan match. Therefore, the possibility of a summer transfer has emerged as a more realistic scenario.
Kim Min-jae is currently suffering from a combination of Achilles pain, cold symptoms, and back pain, which has led to a decline in his physical condition, highlighting the need for recovery. German media reported that "he was not in perfect condition even for the match against St. Pauli, and rest is needed."
Chelsea News stated that "Kim Min-jae may violate regulations, but he is a player worth bringing in, even if it means changing Chelsea's philosophy," noting that "he is evaluated as an elite center-back and is gaining attention across Europe."
Football Fan Cast reported that "Newcastle has also expressed interest in signing Kim Min-jae and has had initial contact with his agent," stating that "Kim Min-jae is a player who can provide leadership and quality to the defense and would be an ideal reinforcement for Newcastle, aiming for victory."
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