Is it a fire sale after the exhaustion?
The transfer rumors surrounding Bayern Munich defender Kim Min-jae (28) are becoming more pronounced. Despite injuries, Kim Min-jae played 43 matches and logged 3,593 minutes for the team, and has been classified as a candidate for release this summer, with the club mentioning the possibility of putting him on the market at a transfer fee approximately 40% lower.
The British 'Sports Bible' reported on the 19th (Korean time) that "Bayern is preparing to sell Kim Min-jae at an absurdly low transfer fee." Christian Falk of the German 'Bild' noted, "Kim Min-jae has already been informed by the club about the possibility of a transfer. Bayern plans to transfer Kim Min-jae at a level of €30 million to €35 million (approximately 47 billion to 55 billion won)." This figure represents a decrease of about 40% from the €50 million buyout amount when Bayern acquired Kim Min-jae from SSC Napoli.
Falk added that Kim Min-jae has expressed a willingness to stay and conveyed to individuals around the club that he is open to the possibility of a transfer. In fact, the possibility of selling Kim Min-jae has already been openly mentioned within Bayern. German media such as 'Sport Bild' and 'Bavarian Football Works' reported that "Bayern is disappointed with Kim Min-jae's performance" and "he is no longer regarded as a core player."
In particular, journalist Florian Plettenberg stated, "Bayern does not see Kim Min-jae as 'untouchable'" and made it clear that they are open to a sale if a suitable offer is received.
Bild mentions that if Kim Min-jae departs, Bayer Leverkusen's Jonathan Tah is cited as a replacement, while 'Sky Sports' refers to Dean Huys being discussed as a potential scenario for a transfer.
Interest in Kim Min-jae remains high. Transfer market expert Santi Aouna from France revealed that "Premier League clubs, including Chelsea and Newcastle United, have contacted Kim Min-jae's agent," and journalist Rudy Galetti noted that “Serie A’s Juventus, Inter Milan, and even Saudi clubs are showing interest in acquiring Kim Min-jae.”
Kim Min-jae played throughout the season while dealing with injuries. He suffered an Achilles injury in October last year during a match against Eintracht Frankfurt, and his recovery was slow even during the winter break. Nevertheless, under coach Vincent Kompany, Kim Min-jae regained his starting position, and as Dayot Upamecano and Hiroki Ito went on long-term injuries, Kim Min-jae essentially held up the defense alone. He played a total of 3,593 minutes across all competitions, including league, cup, and Champions League, which is the highest record among Bayern defenders.
On the other hand, Upamecano (1,761 minutes) and Alphonso Davies (1,561 minutes), who are regarded as key players, were early ruled out for the season. Kim Min-jae held his position until Bayern secured the Bundesliga title, at which point he was finally allowed to rest. Only then did Bayern recognize Kim Min-jae's contributions and celebrated the championship with fans at Marienplatz. With this victory, Kim Min-jae also set a milestone as the first Korean to achieve a double title in Europe's top five leagues.
Nevertheless, criticism has not ceased. In the second half of the season, mistakes during matches against Dortmund in the Der Klassiker and in the Champions League quarter-finals brought on criticisms of being labeled the 'worst defender.' German media like 'Transfermarkt' mention the possibility of excluding Kim Min-jae from the club's plans for the next season.
The figures told a different story. The European football statistics outlet 'Sofascore' published the rankings for various institutional sectors in the Bundesliga for the 2024-2025 season, with Kim Min-jae ranking 3rd overall in pass completion (2,337 times). The top spot went to Joshua Kimmich (3,183 times), and 2nd place was held by Granit Xhaka (2,501 times). This demonstrates that his contributions extended significantly beyond mere defensive capabilities.
In an interview with German media, Kim Min-jae stated, "There was a lot of pain over the past seven months. But there is no reason to leave. I hope to stay." However, he also left open the possibility by saying, "I will keep an eye on the situation." His contract with Bayern lasts until 2028.
The sacrifices made by Kim Min-jae, who endured everything, are ultimately leading to a sad situation described as 'release after exhaustion.' This summer, Kim Min-jae's future is expected to become one of the hottest topics in European football.
[OSEN]