Kim Min-jae (29) is increasingly likely to leave Bayern Munich. Bayern is reportedly close to acquiring 'big center back' Jonathan Tah (29) as his replacement.

Christian Falk, a well-known German journalist who operates 'CF Bayern Insider,' reported on the 15th (Korea time) that "Tah made a decisive transfer decision after parting ways with Bayer Leverkusen. Bayern appears to be in a strong position to win the competition for Tah's transfer this summer."

Tah is a towering center back, boasting a height of 195 cm. He even possesses incredible speed, reaching a top speed of 35.81 km/h. He has been wearing the Bayer Leverkusen jersey since 2015 and played a key role in achieving the Bundesliga's first-ever unbeaten championship last season.

Tah, who also plays for the German national team, declared a new challenge this summer. As he will become a free agent at the end of this season, he has already announced his departure from Bayer Leverkusen. A two-way battle is anticipated between Bayern and Barcelona, both of which have been pushing for Tah's recruitment since last summer.

However, as Barcelona has dropped out, Bayern is gaining momentum. Falk noted, "Initially, it seemed that Tah would transfer to Barcelona. However, due to Barcelona's unstable finances, the transfer plans are likely to fall through. Barcelona hoped to pursue Tah's acquisition, but he has now lost patience. A potential agreement with Barcelona is no longer a realistic option."

Bayern seized the opportunity and successfully persuaded Tah to join. Falk explained, "Max Eberl, Bayern's director, made positive progress regarding Tah's future in a meeting with club executives on Monday. The transfer proposal for Tah has been approved! Bayern will offer him a contract valid until the summer of 2028."

Additionally, he stated, "The likelihood of Tah transferring to the Premier League is low. Bayern is already in concentrated discussions with his agent, Pini Zahavi. Now, Tah does not want to leave Germany in the upcoming transfer market. Therefore, for now, Bayern is leading the recruitment race and is very likely to complete the signing."

Bayern views Tah as a replacement for Kim Min-jae. Falk claimed, "After Bayern's disappointing exit from the Champions League, the need for a defensive leader like Tah has become clear. Given that the club wants to sell Kim Min-jae this summer, Tah could be an ideal successor."

In particular, Tah is known for his 'steel body,' rarely suffering from injuries. This is in contrast to existing Bayern defenders like Dayot Upamecano, Hiroki Ito, and Josip Stanisic, who have frequently dealt with injuries.

Falk also pointed out, "Eberl and Christoph Freund, the director, know that Tah can partially solve the injury problems of the defense. He has played in every Bundesliga match this season except for one. This stands in stark contrast to Bayern players."

If Bayern signs Tah, the chances of Kim Min-jae leaving the team will increase significantly. Kim Min-jae has been more dedicated than anyone else at Bayern this season. He has played 43 matches totaling 3,593 minutes across all competitions, with 2,289 minutes in the league alone. This is the second-most playing time at Bayern, following Joshua Kimmich.

Especially since last October, Kim Min-jae has been struggling with an Achilles injury while continuing to perform under challenging circumstances. He has not been able to rest properly due to his teammates' multiple injuries and has consistently defended Bayern's backline. He has become an 'icon of overwork,' raising concerns even from the International Federation of Professional Footballers (FIFPro).

Thanks to his efforts, Bayern regained the Meisterschale (Bundesliga championship trophy) that they lost to Leverkusen last season. Kim Min-jae also became the first Korean player to dominate two of the top five European leagues.

However, it is uncertain whether Kim Min-jae will continue to wear the Bayern uniform next season. Perhaps due to his prolonged battle against injuries, he has started to make more mistakes as the season approaches its end. The criticism has increased even in Germany. Consequently, reports have emerged from reputable outlets like 'Sky Sports' Germany, 'Bild,' and 'Kicker' indicating that Bayern is considering parting ways with Kim Min-jae.

About two weeks ago, Kim Min-jae expressed his desire to stay at Bayern, but now his mind appears to have changed. Falk noted, "Kim Min-jae is one of the candidates for release this summer. If he receives an attractive offer, he would not hesitate to leave the team. He acutely felt the criticism regarding his performance in Munich."

The German outlet 'TZ' also remarked, "It is undeniable that Kim Min-jae has recently faced frequent criticism. He took the feedback he received, both internally and externally, seriously." They added, "After a good season in Serie A, Kim Min-jae was regarded as a promising future defensive leader. However, he has not met expectations at Bayern thus far. There have been too many mistakes, a lack of consistency, and recurring injury issues. Kim Min-jae has continued to regress."

The outlet further noted, "Tah is a player who possesses the leadership, composure, and physical strength that Bayern has recently lacked." 'Transfermarkt' has also placed Tah's name, not Kim Min-jae's, on their projected best XI for Bayern next season. The media predicts that Tah and Upamecano will take charge of the central defense.

Now, if a concrete love call for Kim Min-jae emerges, the transfer is likely to pick up momentum. TZ emphasized, "One thing is clear: Bayern wants to solve the problems in central defense once and for all. The possibility of Kim Min-jae's departure cannot be entirely ruled out. In fact, both the club and the player seem willing to talk. So far, there has just been a lack of suitable offers, but the summer transfer market has not yet begun."

[Photo] ⓒGettyimages (Unauthorized reproduction and redistribution prohibited), Bayern Munich, Transfers, Transfermarkt social media.

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