Kim Min-jae (29, Bayern Munich) is gaining popularity. This time, Italy's prestigious AC Milan is targeting him.

Italy's Gazzetta dello Sport reported on the 6th (Korean time), "Milan sends an offer to Kim Min-jae. Bayern is looking to let him go, and Italy wants him."

Milan experienced the humiliation of finishing 8th in Serie A last season. They managed to earn 63 points through 18 wins, 9 draws, and 11 losses in 38 matches, and were also thwarted in their bid to qualify for European competitions. After parting ways with coach Stefano Pioli last summer, they appointed Paulo Fonseca and Sérgio Conceição but could not shake off their poor performance. Last week, they decided to entrust the reins once again to Massimiliano Allegri.

The biggest reason for Milan's downfall is their shaky defense. Milan scored 61 goals in Serie A this season, ranking third in the league, but conceded 43 goals, leaving their defense vulnerable.

Gazzetta dello Sport noted, "For Milan to regain competitiveness, stability must be prioritized. Of course, changing the mindset and playing style is important, but individual player innovation is also necessary." It added, "The current transfer market is filled with unexpected opportunities. One of them is Kim Min-jae, who has only spent one season in Serie A. He contributed to the championship of Napoli, led by coach Luciano Spalletti."

There is a possibility that Kim Min-jae will part ways with Bayern this summer. This season, he has played 43 matches and logged 3,593 minutes in Bayern's uniform across all competitions, including 2,289 minutes in the league alone. This is the second-most playing time in the team after Joshua Kimmich.

In particular, since October of last year, Kim Min-jae has been dealing with an Achilles injury while pushing through a demanding schedule. He has been unable to rest properly due to his teammates' injuries and has continuously guarded Bayern's defense. He has become an "icon of overwork," to the extent that the International Federation of Professional Footballers (FIFPro) expressed concern.

Thanks to him, Bayern reclaimed the Meisterschale (Bundesliga championship trophy) they lost to Bayer Leverkusen last season. Kim Min-jae also became the first Korean player to win in two of the top five European leagues. He lifted the Serie A championship trophy with Napoli in the 2022-2023 season before also clinching the Bundesliga title.

Nevertheless, Bayern is considering parting ways with Kim Min-jae. Local criticism in Germany points to too many mistakes in the second half of the season. The Bayern board wishes to let Kim Min-jae go if they receive a suitable offer and has already signed Jonathan Tah.

Even Kim Min-jae, who always declared he would prove himself by staying at Bayern, has changed his mind. Christian Falk, a reporter for Bild, noted, "Kim Min-jae is one of the candidates for release this summer. He himself would not hesitate to leave the team if he receives an attractive offer. He has deeply felt the criticism of his performance in Munich."

The Bayern board has already decided to sell Kim Min-jae. According to Germany's Bild, director Max Eberl has received approval from the supervisory board for summer transfer market plans that include a contract with Tah until 2028. The outlet explained, "Bayern wants to wait for transfer offers for defensive star Kim Min-jae. They hope for offers from abroad."

There are several teams abroad interested in Kim Min-jae. Chelsea, Newcastle United, Juventus, Inter Milan, and clubs from Saudi Arabia are showing interest in him. According to Falk, Bayern expects to reap between €30 million (about 46.9 billion won) and €35 million (about 54.8 billion won) from Kim Min-jae's sale, making a transfer plausible if he lowers his salary slightly.

Additionally, Milan has also emerged as a potential destination. Gazzetta dello Sport pointed out, "Kim Min-jae became a German champion at Bayern, but he has not been able to replicate the level he showed in Italy. For this reason, Bayern decided to release him, and he requested a famous Italian agent to find him a new position in Serie A. Serie A is where Kim Min-jae had his best career season."

Furthermore, the media stated, "Milan has emerged as one of the likely destinations, especially since coach Allegri values Kim Min-jae highly," adding, "Bayern has given Kim Min-jae an opportunity to leave, which could increase the negotiation possibilities. However, currently, economic factors are complicating the negotiations. First, Bayern is not considering a loan and insists on receiving more than €30 million in transfer fees."

Kim Min-jae's high salary is also a hurdle. Gazzetta dello Sport reported, "Second, Kim Min-jae is receiving a very high salary, reaching between €8 million (about 12.4 billion won) and €9 million (about 14 billion won) annually, including bonuses. Above all, Kim Min-jae is under contract with Bayern until 2028," stating, "The solution is to ask Bayern for assistance. Allowing a loan or subsidizing his salary or providing bonuses for a full transfer could be methods to consider."

For Kim Min-jae, the situation is such that he must either lower his salary or opt for a Saudi club with oil money if he wants to leave Bayern. Earlier, Fabrizio Romano emphasized, "Kim Min-jae's transfer fee is not very high, but the salary scale is quite massive. It could be problematic for European teams. In contrast, Saudi Arabia may offer a larger amount. Kim Min-jae needs to decide whether to cut his salary and continue his European career or move to Saudi Arabia."

Meanwhile, Milan is also exploring the possibility of a trade involving winger Rafael Leão and Kim Min-jae. Germany's Kicker reported, "Kim Min-jae is being mentioned as a target wanted by coach Allegri. He could leave Bayern. According to our information, Leão could be used as a bargaining chip in the process of transferring to Bayern."

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

[OSEN]