Lee Kang-in prepares for crucial UCL semifinal against Arsenal amid transfer talks

Lee Kang-in (24, Paris Saint-Germain) has completed preparations to face Arsenal again after six months. He arrived in London, England, to make final preparations.

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) will face Arsenal in the first leg of the semifinals of the 2024-2025 season UEFA Champions League (UCL) at Emirates Stadium in London at 4 a.m. on the 30th (Korean time).

Earlier, PSG earned a place in the semifinals after a fierce battle against Aston Villa in the quarterfinals, winning with a total score of 5-4 after facing a crisis in the away second leg. Arsenal joined the semifinals, crushing the defending champion Real Madrid with a total score of 5-1.

Now PSG is two steps away from their long-desired UCL victory. If PSG lifts the UCL trophy for the first time in the club's history, they could also achieve a "quadruple" victory. PSG has already topped Ligue 1 and the Trophée des Champions and is also aiming for victory in the Coupe de France.

The matchup between PSG and Arsenal will first take place at Arsenal's home. PSG will play the away game first and then host the second leg at home on the 8th of next month. If they defeat Arsenal and reach the final, they will face the winner between Barcelona (Spain) and Inter Milan (Italy) for the championship trophy.

Lee Kang-in and the PSG squad arrived in London, England, on the 28th. PSG head coach Luis Enrique summoned 22 players, including Lee Kang-in, Ousmane Dembélé, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Bradley Barcola, Vitinha, Marquinhos, and Achraf Hakimi.

However, Lee Kang-in is expected to start on the bench once again. Dembélé has established himself as the new striker in the second half of the season, and Barcola is favored to play on the wings alongside Khvicha. Additionally, Désiré Doué is increasing his playing time.

Naturally, Lee Kang-in's significance has diminished. He occasionally secured starting opportunities in the league, but has been relegated to the bench in the UCL. He only made a late substitute appearance in the away second leg against Liverpool and played through extra time. He did not play a single minute in the two matches against Villa.

UEFA also anticipated Lee Kang-in's exclusion from the starting lineup. UEFA projected that Coach Enrique would field Doué-Dembélé-Khvicha, João Neves-Vitinha-Fabian Ruiz, Nuno Mendes-Willian Pacho-Marquinhos-Achraf Hakimi, and Gianluigi Donnarumma as starters. It is true that there is no need for Enrique to make changes in the tournament.

Lee Kang-in's presence in the team has significantly diminished since the winter transfer window. At the beginning of the season, he showcased versatility by taking on various roles, including "false nine," right winger, and central midfielder. He accumulated several attacking points and approached career highs.

However, as newcomers surged forward, Lee Kang-in fell behind in the competition for a starting position. This season, he has played 43 matches, scoring 6 goals and providing 6 assists. Despite numerous substitute appearances, he managed to achieve double-digit attacking points.

Now Lee Kang-in is preparing to act as a "super joker" on the UCL stage. He started as a right winger in the match against Nantes on the 23rd, providing 1 assist after a long time. Previously, he was deployed as a defensive midfielder in an experimental position against Le Havre but showcased his creativity by providing an assist for Vitinha's goal in the Nantes match.

However, Lee Kang-in was absent from the 30th round of Ligue 1 against OGC Nice on the 26th. That day, Coach Enrique utilized all the best 11, but they lost 1-3 to Nice, shattering their hopes for an "undefeated championship." Lee Kang-in remained on the bench until the end. Since he has sufficiently conserved his energy, there is a good possibility of being substituted in the second half of the match against Arsenal.

The matchup against Arsenal could serve as an important showcase for Lee Kang-in, as he is receiving interest from several Premier League clubs, including Arsenal, Manchester United, Newcastle United, and Crystal Palace.

Lee Kang-in is rumored to be considering a transfer ahead of the summer transfer window. French outlet 'Sport' reported that "Lee Kang-in was brought in to solidify his position in the PSG midfield but has not become an essential player." It added that "the PSG board is considering selling Lee Kang-in to make room for new reinforcements."

In particular, rumors of a potential move to the Premier League are heating up. In fact, several clubs, including Arsenal, inquired about acquiring Lee Kang-in last winter, but PSG reportedly rejected all inquiries. Additionally, his agent, Javier Garrido, visited England last month to negotiate with Manchester United, Aston Villa, and Everton, fueling speculation.

If Lee Kang-in performs well in the match against Arsenal, he could gain more popularity. He played as a "false nine" against Arsenal in the group stage but was not able to make a significant impact. This time, Lee Kang-in needs to write a different outcome. If he plays in the match against Arsenal, he will become the second South Korean player in history to reach the UCL semifinals in consecutive seasons, following Park Ji-sung.

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