Will Lee Kang-in (24), who is gradually losing his standing at Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), become the center of a new project at Serie A powerhouse Napoli? Italian local media report that manager Antonio Conte has marked Lee Kang-in as a key player for the next season, drawing attention as a new axis in the summer transfer market.
Corriere dello Sport reported on the 9th (Korean time) that "Napoli is showing interest in signing Lee Kang-in and plans to utilize him as a versatile resource who can cover both sides and central midfield in the new season."
It added, "Lee Kang-in, born in 2001, possesses refined passing ability centered on his left foot, making him a rare young playmaker in Europe."
There is a clear change of dynamics behind the transfer rumors. Lee Kang-in, who failed to gain the trust of manager Luis Enrique at PSG, has been completely excluded from important matches, including the UEFA Champions League. Last month, he was only substituted just before the end of the second leg of the UCL Round of 16 against Liverpool and missed both the quarterfinals and semifinals.
Futsal7 noted that "Lee Kang-in has completely lost his starting position at PSG. This situation soon becomes a condition that is considered a candidate for transfer in the market," and added that "not just Arsenal and Manchester United, but Saudi Arabian clubs are closely monitoring his situation."
In this situation, Napoli is considering Lee Kang-in as a successor to Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia transferred to PSG last January, and Napoli has been struggling to find a replacement for his vacancy. David Neres has taken on that role, but has only managed 2 goals and 4 assists in 25 league matches this season, yielding unsatisfactory results. Notably, since January, he has maintained a goal drought, prompting manager Conte to reportedly request the club to strengthen the flanks.
As a result, Lee Kang-in, who has caught Conte's radar, is evaluated as a resource with high tactical flexibility and technical completeness.
Calcio Napoli described, "Lee Kang-in primarily plays as an attacking midfielder, but he is also capable as a second striker and a right winger," adding that "he is the type of playmaker that manager Conte desires."
However, whether the transfer materializes ultimately depends on the "amount." PSG is demanding at least €40 million (629 billion won), but Napoli's stance is that they cannot bear more than €25 million (393 billion won). Calcio Napoli reported, "There is a significant gap in the transfer fee between the two clubs, but there may be room for negotiation if talks become serious," adding that "Napoli is preparing to overhaul all positions, including pursuing Lee Kang-in and Kevin De Bruyne."
Lee Kang-in recently recorded his 6th assist of the season in the Ligue 1 match against Nantes, but his standing within PSG has not significantly improved. The match against Nantes was relatively low in importance, and manager Enrique has utilized Lee Kang-in at a 'fifth option' level rather than as a starter throughout the season. Given the likelihood of this trend continuing through the remainder of the season, it is a crucial time for Lee Kang-in to seek a change in environment.
However, PSG still shows a willingness to utilize Lee Kang-in to some extent in terms of its strategy in the Asian market. Yet, if tactical inefficiencies, as seen when manager Luis Enrique tried to use Lee in defensive midfielder or unfavorable positions, continue, it will ultimately be detrimental to both the player and the club.
Napoli is a club with experience winning Serie A and has many examples of creative midfielders emerging in the Italian league in the past. For Lee Kang-in, moving to Napoli could be more than just a transfer; it could be a turning point in his career. There is sufficient justification for undertaking a new challenge for sustainability on the European stage.
Lee Kang-in's future situation is expected to become clearer in the upcoming summer transfer window. Whether he can end his stagnation at PSG or open a second peak at Napoli remains to be seen. All possibilities are now on the table.
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