Could Lee Kang-in (24, Paris Saint-Germain) be wearing the 'Italian Champion' Napoli uniform? There are news reports that Napoli seriously wants him.

Italian outlet Il Mattino reported on the 29th (Korea time) that "Lee Kang-in is caught up in transfer rumors with Napoli. Napoli has initiated efforts to acquire attacking winger Lee Kang-in."

The media stated, "Lee Kang-in, an attacker belonging to PSG (who shares the same nationality as Kim Min-jae), will play in the Champions League final against Inter in Munich next Saturday. Napoli is pursuing Lee Kang-in and has prepared decisive efforts."​

Il Mattino also noted that "Lee Kang-in is a natural left-footed player but mainly plays on the right, cutting inwards. He is under contract with PSG until 2028, but he may decide to transfer. Napoli's interest as the Italian champion is generating considerable excitement for him. This season, Lee Kang-in has not performed as expected under the shadow of the Eiffel Tower, with unsatisfactory attacking points of 6 goals and 6 assists."

Napoli has also been linked with Lee Kang-in during the last winter transfer market. At that time, Lee Kang-in's name came up during PSG's acquisition of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia from Napoli. However, PSG decided to keep Lee Kang-in, and it became a non-issue.

Italian outlet Arena Napoli reported, "Napoli already attempted to acquire this Korean player in the last winter transfer market. According to rumors, the club had interest in him, and requested a trade as part of the Kvaratskhelia deal. However, PSG built walls to prevent Lee Kang-in from leaving during the winter transfer market."

However, the situation has now changed. Lee Kang-in is likely to part ways with PSG at the end of this season. Earlier, Spanish outlet Estadio Deportivo reported, "Lee Kang-in is prepared to end his journey with PSG. The club has allowed Lee Kang-in's transfer while preparing for the next season. Arsenal is showing interest in him, and his market value has already been established."

The biggest reason is the significantly reduced playing time. Lee Kang-in's position has shrunk since the winter transfer market. He has played in various positions and eased coach Enrique's concerns, but he could not secure a solid position and has fallen to a rotational resource. In reality, Lee Kang-in has only been on the bench in the most crucial UEFA Champions League (UCL) stage.

Recently, Lee Kang-in has rarely been on the pitch. He remained on the bench during the final league match against Auxerre and did not play a single minute in the Coupe de France final against Stade Reims, completely excluded from Coach Luis Enrique's plans. If this continues, it is highly likely he will miss the UCL final against Inter on the 1st of next month.

Il Mattino also pointed out that Napoli has a substantial possibility to acquire Lee Kang-in now. The media said, "The situation has completely changed, and the possibility of transfer is wide open. PSG will not actively block the move if a proper offer comes in. Especially, they maintain a good relationship with Napoli. Nasser Al-Khelaifi, the owner of PSG, has recently completed significant acquisitions, including Kvaratskhelia."

The key issue is the transfer fee. Il Mattino estimated, "Lee Kang-in's market value is around 30 million euros (approximately 46.9 billion won). However, Aurelio De Laurentiis, president of Napoli, is aiming for a considerable discount. We will have to keep an eye on this."

However, if the competition for acquisition heats up, it is highly likely that Napoli will not have its way. Lee Kang-in is reportedly attracting interest not only from Napoli but also from clubs in England, Spain, other Serie A clubs, and teams in Saudi Arabia.

Ekrem Konur, a transfer market expert from Turkey, claimed, "AC Milan, Juventus, and Napoli are keeping an eye on Lee Kang-in's situation. PSG set the transfer fee for winger Lee Kang-in, who is receiving interest from Premier League, Serie A, and Bundesliga clubs, between 40 million euros (approximately 62.4 billion won) and 50 million euros (approximately 78 billion won)."

In the Premier League, Manchester United, Arsenal, and Crystal Palace are being linked with Lee Kang-in. Arsenal actually pushed to acquire Lee Kang-in during the last winter transfer market. However, now, more talks are emerging about Manchester United.

In Spain, where Lee Kang-in performed during his time at Mallorca, names such as Atlético Madrid and Villarreal are being mentioned. Atlético Madrid, managed by Diego Simeone, has previously shown serious interest in acquiring Lee Kang-in. Villarreal is reportedly considering Lee Kang-in as a replacement for Alex Baena, who is poised for a transfer.

One thing is clear: it is highly likely that Lee Kang-in will part ways with PSG this summer. Matteo Moreto, who is affiliated with Spanish outlet Relevo, recently stated, "Negotiations for a contract renewal between Lee Kang-in and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) have come to a standstill. He could become one of the major star players in the summer transfer market."

Moreto also explained, "Several clubs are closely monitoring Lee Kang-in's situation. However, so far, no club has reached a final agreement with PSG. Napoli, Premier League clubs, Spanish clubs, and Saudi clubs are all showing interest in him."

Moreto is one of the most reputable journalists in Spain. He has previously shown affection for Lee Kang-in while covering Mallorca. During the 2022-2023 season, he was among the first to report transfer rumors surrounding Lee Kang-in, receiving significant attention.

In addition, Lee Kang-in has directly hinted at a transfer. Earlier this month, he removed the PSG team name from his Instagram bio. This has led fans to speculate whether Lee Kang-in, who has recently been engulfed in transfer rumors, left another transfer hint. In fact, he did the same when he removed the Mallorca team name from his Instagram bio before moving to PSG.

[Photo] PSG, Kicking Cleats, Transfermarkt, Lee Kang-in's social media.

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