Despite the upcoming match against Arsenal, Lee Kang-in (24, Paris Saint-Germain) is likely to be absent.

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) will play the second leg of the semifinal against Arsenal at 4 a.m. on the 8th (Korea time) at Parc des Princes. After a 1-0 victory away in the first leg with a goal from Ousmane Dembélé, PSG aims to secure a place in the finals at home.

Coach Luis Enrique noted, "The energy of the home fans will be a decisive force," adding, "Just as we overcame Liverpool and Aston Villa, we are ready to overcome Arsenal as well." He also indicated that Dembélé, who was concerned about injury, is likely to participate.

On the 6th, just before the match, Lee Kang-in hinted at his breakup with PSG. That day, he deleted the 'PSG' club name from his social media profile. The timing of the change was too peculiar to be seen as a mere alteration. It came as the team was on the verge of the Champions League semifinal second leg and amid numerous transfer rumors involving clubs in England. It was a quiet yet powerful signal.

Lee Kang-in's position has already been greatly shaken. He scored 6 goals and provided 6 assists in 43 official matches this season, but only 24 of those matches were as a starter. His total playing time is 2,307 minutes, ranking 14th on the team. Most notably, he was effectively excluded from the UEFA Champions League tournament, a key stage. He participated for just 16 minutes from the Round of 16 to the first leg of the semifinals, and he was even left off the substitution list for the first leg against Arsenal.

The match on the 4th against Strasbourg was a symbolic scene. Coach Enrique excluded many key resources ahead of the second leg against Arsenal on the 8th and finally gave Lee Kang-in a starting opportunity. Despite Dembélé being absent due to injury, Lee Kang-in was not considered a starter. In the end, he was substituted after just 45 minutes due to pain in his left shin. The atmosphere suggests that his participation in the Arsenal match is virtually impossible.

The issue is timing. Arsenal is one of the clubs most closely associated with Lee Kang-in. In fact, in January, manager Mikel Arteta sought to sign Lee Kang-in to fill the gap left by Bukayo Saka’s injury, but PSG rejected the transfer at that time. However, the situation is now entirely the opposite. French outlets 'L'Équipe,' 'Foot01,' and 'Planet PSG' reported that PSG is fully prepared to allow Lee Kang-in’s transfer. The player himself has also expressed dissatisfaction with his playing time, and discussions about his future are scheduled to take place after the season.

Lee Kang-in's market value has also been adjusted. During the winter transfer window, PSG raised his value to €22 million (about 34.9 billion won), more than double the initial payment, but it is now being reported that negotiations are possible at around €20 million (about 31.8 billion won). This is not an amount that would pose a burden to top Premier League clubs.

'The Sun' reported that "Manager Arteta and Director General Andrea Berta are paying attention to Lee Kang-in, and he is already on the sales list." Berta is known for having highly valued Lee Kang-in since his time at Atlético Madrid. 'Estadio Deportivo' reported, "Arsenal will have no problem bringing Lee Kang-in at the price PSG wants," stating that this signing is a 'direct request' from manager Arteta.

Interest in Lee Kang-in is not limited to Arsenal. Several Premier League clubs, including Manchester United, Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, and Crystal Palace, are sending scouts and maintaining consistent interest.

Lee Kang-in, who was initially noted as a versatile resource for PSG early in the season, has ultimately been removed from Coach Enrique's plans. And Lee Kang-in himself has begun to accept this fact. His profile no longer even includes the name 'PSG.' His next steps will not be within Paris.

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