Kim Min-jae's (29, Bayern Munich) future is becoming unclear. His position is increasingly precarious amid Bayern's defensive overhaul.

The German media outlet 'FCB Inside' reported on the 29th (Korean time) that 'Bayern is undergoing a massive change in their defensive line, and Kim Min-jae is gradually distancing from the club's future plans.'

Bayern recently strengthened their defense by signing Jonathan Tah (28) from 'rival' Bayer Leverkusen. Tah is a key defender who led Leverkusen to an unbeaten victory in the Bundesliga during the 2023-2024 season. His contract runs until June 2029, and his jersey number is 4.

The addition of the new defender has made Kim Min-jae's position unstable.

'FCB Inside' noted that 'Kim Min-jae has occasionally shown performance that meets expectations but has been inconsistent. If an appropriate transfer offer arrives, Bayern may consider selling him.'

Currently, Bayern has added Tah as a new force alongside existing center-backs like Upamecano and Stanisic. They anticipate that the next season will feature a 'Tah + Upamecano' combination.

'FCB Inside' predicts that even if Kim Min-jae stays, he is likely to remain in a backup role due to the impact of Tah's signing.

Another German media outlet, 'Bild,' also explained on the 29th that 'With Tah's signing, he and Upamecano will form the starting center-back duo next season. Internally at Bayern, Tah and Upamecano are regarded as complementary partners.'

It added, 'Kim Min-jae will go to the bench. Bayern is willing to sell him if an appropriate offer comes. If Kim Min-jae stays, he will be a backup alongside Josip Stanisic.'

Bayern's defensive changes are becoming more apparent ahead of the Club World Cup. Eric Dier is unavailable due to injury and is also expected to leave after his contract expires this season. Upamecano's participation in the early stages of the tournament is also uncertain due to injury.

In this situation, Kim Min-jae is not classified as a definite alternative for Bayern. Bayern is reportedly considering signing additional defenders beyond Tah.

There are several teams abroad interested in Kim Min-jae. Chelsea, Newcastle United, Juventus, Inter Milan, and Saudi Arabian clubs have shown interest in him. According to Christian Falk of 'Bild,' Bayern expects to gain around €30 million (approximately 46.9 billion won) to €35 million (approximately 54.8 billion won) from Kim Min-jae's sale.

The issue lies with the salary. European transfer market expert Fabrizio Romano claimed last month that Kim Min-jae may need to take a pay cut. At that time, he stated, 'Kim Min-jae is earning a significantly high salary at Bayern. Although his transfer fee was not very high, the salary scale is quite substantial. This could be an issue for European teams. On the other hand, Saudi Arabian clubs are ready to match Kim Min-jae's salary, and could even offer a larger sum.'

Currently, it is known that Kim Min-jae receives a salary of up to €17 million (approximately 27.7 billion won) annually at Bayern. According to Bild, he ranks jointly seventh in salary at Bayern, alongside Thomas Müller and Leon Goretzka, which is an amount that reaches the highest level of treatment in most Premier League teams.

Ultimately, it seems that Kim Min-jae will need to make a decision between money and continuing in the European stage. If he considers Saudi Arabia, both Kim Min-jae and Bayern could receive a satisfactory offer due to their financial capabilities. Especially, clubs like Al Hilal, Al Ittihad, Al Nassr, and Al Ahli, backed by the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), could offer even more money, as Romano mentioned.

[Photo] ⓒGettyimages (Reprint and redistribution prohibited), Fabrizio Romano, 365 Scores, Bayern Munich social media.

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