Transfer market expert Fabrizio Romano mentioned the possibility of Kim Min-jae's transfer through his channel on the 23rd (Korean time).
Romano noted that "although Kim Min-jae has not performed up to expectations this season, it should be considered that he consistently played despite injuries and the collapse of the defensive line within the team. He also mentioned that several clubs in Europe are showing interest in Kim Min-jae, and Saudi Arabian clubs have started reaching out."
In particular, Romano added that "in a situation where a high salary could be a stumbling block, Saudi Arabia is one of the few markets capable of bearing Kim Min-jae's current salary, unlike European clubs."
TZ also emphasized the strong capital power of Saudi Arabian sovereign wealth funds (PIF) and reported that Al Hilal, Al Ittihad, Al Nassr, and Al Ahli are among the candidates that could acquire Kim Min-jae.
Sport Bild estimated Kim Min-jae's salary at 17 million euros (27.5 billion won), and including options, it amounts to 30 billion won. This is considered a top salary level even in the Premier League and is known to be a figure that could land in the top 20.
Bayern Munich is open to the possibility of Kim Min-jae's transfer. Florian Plettenberg of Sky Sports stated that Kim Min-jae is no longer classified as an untransferable asset, and local German media analyzed that if they can recover the 50 million euros (81.5 billion won) paid as a transfer fee for Kim Min-jae, there is a sufficient likelihood of proceeding with his sale.
Kim Min-jae has faced criticism for his shaky performance in recent matches. He made consecutive mistakes that led to conceding goals in the match against Dortmund and the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal against Inter Milan, which were pointed out as having had a direct and indirect impact on the team's elimination. In particular, his vulnerability in aerial duels has raised doubts about the trust in Kim Min-jae compared to before.
Some argue that Kim Min-jae has been dealing with Achilles tendon pain throughout the season and has taken on excessive playing time due to a chain of injuries among his fellow defenders, suggesting that some consideration is necessary. However, the transfer rumors surrounding him have progressed beyond mere speculation to actual contact.
In this context, Newcastle United from the Premier League is reportedly considering Kim Min-jae as a target for acquisition this summer.
Football Insider reported on the 24th that Newcastle views Kim Min-jae as their top priority for strengthening the defense, and the player himself is said to be very interested in making a move to the Premier League.
Mick Brown, who previously worked as a scout for Manchester United and Sunderland, added credibility to the transfer speculation, stating that Kim Min-jae could provide significant strength to Newcastle's defense. He emphasized that Newcastle is currently facing several issues in their defensive line and that Kim Min-jae is the right person to resolve these.
Brown specifically pointed out the frequent injuries of Botman, Dan Burn's limitations in European competitions, and Schar's decline due to aging as problems, analyzing that acquiring Kim Min-jae could serve as an immediate reinforcement for the club.
Newcastle previously offered 70 million pounds (133.6 billion won) to acquire Crystal Palace defender Marc Guéhi last season, but the negotiations fell through. This has given Kim Min-jae another opportunity to explore the possibility of entering the Premier League.
Kim Min-jae was also likely to transfer to the Premier League in the summer of 2023, but he opted for the German stage due to Bayern Munich's sudden intervention. This summer is expected to be another crucial turning point in his career.
김민재는 2023년 여름에도 프리미어리그 이적이 유력했으나 당시 바이에른 뮌헨의 급작스러운 개입으로 독일 무대를 선택한 바 있다. 이번 여름은 다시 한번 그의 커리어에 있어 중대한 분기점이 될 것으로 전망된다.
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