PSG Director General Luis Campos is reported to have had unofficial contact with Kim Min-jae's camp in Paris.
Footmercato reported on the 7th (Korean time) that "PSG has made strengthening the right center-back position its top priority and has set Kim Min-jae as a key target," and noted that "Director General Campos met directly with Kim Min-jae's agent to explore the possibilities and conditions of a transfer."
While there is no official offer yet, this meeting is a clear signal that PSG is taking the recruitment of Kim Min-jae seriously. Other candidates include Bournemouth's Illya Zabarnyi and Lazio's Mario Hila, but analysts believe PSG prioritizes Kim Min-jae, given his status as a top-level defender in Europe.
Interest in Kim Min-jae is not limited to France. The Hard Tackle noted that "Liverpool has a deep interest in signing Kim Min-jae and is competing with Chelsea and Newcastle," adding that "Kim Min-jae could be the successor to Virgil van Dijk and a core player in the slot manager system."
The Hard Tackle analyzed that the fast-paced and physical environment of the Premier League suits Kim Min-jae's style well. The performance that fell short of expectations at Bayern Munich could act as a factor enhancing the possibility of a resurgence in the Premier League.
Speculation about a return to Italy has also been steadily raised. Gazzetta dello Sport reported that "Kim Min-jae hopes for a return to Italy and AC Milan is the most likely candidate." In particular, coach Massimiliano Allegri has shown interest in Kim Min-jae, and it is reported that Kim Min-jae's camp has requested a local agent to facilitate finding a new home in Serie A.
As PSG enters the serious phase of the recruitment battle, the competition surrounding Kim Min-jae is expanding across Europe. His struggles at Bayern Munich are viewed as an opportunity by other big clubs. Kim Min-jae is an elite talent who led Napoli to the league championship and received the Serie A Best Defender award.
This season at Bayern Munich, Kim Min-jae's performance has declined alongside an Achilles injury and a cyst diagnosis. Ultimately, with the confirmation of the signing of Jonathan Tah, Kim Min-jae finds himself in a situation where a transfer is unavoidable.
Evaluations of the transfer fee differ among media outlets. Sport1 mentioned €30 million to €35 million (46.5 billion to 54.3 billion won), while Footmercato predicted that if PSG comes to the negotiating table, they could demand up to €50 million (77.5 billion won). There is speculation that the price could vary depending on the negotiating parties and the timing.
Kim Min-jae is currently focused on recovery from his injury and is expected to participate in the Club World Cup scheduled for June as a member of Bayern Munich. German outlet TZ reported that "participation in the group stage is difficult, but there is a possibility of participation from the tournament onward."
As the Club World Cup concludes in mid-July, the transfer market will heat up. European powerhouses, including PSG, Liverpool, and AC Milan, are set to engage in a recruitment war over Kim Min-jae, and his decision is expected to become a major issue in European football this summer.
[OSEN]