The transfer of Kim Min-jae (29, Bayern Munich) is facing a red light. To crush Kim Min-jae's desire to challenge for the top once again on the European stage, it seems as if he is being forced toward a move to Saudi Arabia.
Turkey transfer market expert Yagiz Sabuncuoglu reported on the 13th (Korea time) through his social media that "Kim Min-jae wants to play for a team with a high chance of winning the UEFA Champions League (UCL)," adding, "However, the club is actually raising Kim Min-jae's transfer fee to demand 70 million euros (about 110.6 billion won)."
Kim Min-jae's possibility of parting ways with Bayern this summer is emerging. He has played 43 matches totaling 3,593 minutes wearing the Bayern jersey across all competitions this season, with 2,289 minutes in the league alone. This is the second-highest playing time in the team after Joshua Kimmich. Notably, Kim Min-jae has been carrying an Achilles injury since October of last year while pushing through.
Despite being in need of a break, Kim Min-jae was unable to rest properly due to the continuous injuries of teammates and has continued to safeguard Bayern's defense. He has become a "symbol of overwork" to the extent that the International Federation of Professional Footballers (FIFPro) has expressed concern. Thanks to him, Bayern has reclaimed the Meisterschale (Bundesliga trophy) that they had lost to Bayer Leverkusen last season. Kim Min-jae has also become the first Korean player to conquer two of Europe's top five leagues.
After lifting the Serie A championship trophy with Napoli in the 2022-2023 season, Kim Min-jae succeeded in conquering the Bundesliga as well. However, Bayern is considering parting ways with Kim Min-jae. Criticism has been voiced locally about the numerous mistakes he made in the second half of the season. The Bayern board of directors wishes to send Kim Min-jae abroad if they receive an appropriate offer and has already signed Jonathan Tah.
Many teams desire Kim Min-jae. Chelsea, Newcastle, Juventus, Inter Milan, and Saudi Arabian clubs have shown interest in him. According to Christian Falk from 'Bild', Bayern hopes to receive around 30 million euros (about 46.5 billion won) to 35 million euros (about 54.3 billion won) from Kim Min-jae's sale.
Even Kim Min-jae, who always shouted that he would stay at Bayern to prove himself, has changed his mind. Falk noted, "Kim Min-jae is one of the candidates for release this summer. He would not hesitate to leave the team if he receives an attractive offer. He strongly felt the criticism of his performance in Munich."
Meanwhile, Bayern continues to engage in public relations regarding Kim Min-jae's transfer. Nevertheless, it is reported locally that Bayern's overwork from the last season is still hindering him. In fact, Bayern is said to be pushing to take Kim Min-jae to the Club World Cup against Oakland City on the 16th. However, due to Kim Min-jae's excellent performance, he is being linked with several big clubs like Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Liverpool.
Kim Min-jae missed matches due to injury at the end of the season. His recovery from injury was delayed to the point of missing the June A matches. Local media speculated that his participation in the Club World Cup was practically impossible. However, Bayern's call-up of Kim Min-jae has caused a considerable shock. The club wants him to at least play in the playoffs, even if he cannot appear in the group stage.
Bayern even released footage of Kim Min-jae boarding a plane to the United States through the club's social media. In the video, Kim Min-jae smiles brightly as he departs with Manuel Neuer, Jamal Musiala, and Thomas Müller. Moreover, the possibility of him being deployed in the group stage matches against Benfica and Boca Juniors, including the first round opponent Oakland City on the 16th, has also been left open.
As transfer rumors become more concrete, top European clubs such as Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea, Newcastle, and AC Milan have been linked one after another, but none of these big clubs have officially initiated a transfer attempt. According to Christian Falk from Germany's 'Bild', "None of these clubs have directly negotiated with Kim Min-jae's side or made any official offers."
Currently, the most active movement is actually coming from Saudi Arabia. Saudi media Hihi2 reported that "Al Nassr is rapidly advancing their negotiations to acquire Kim Min-jae and is close to reaching a considerable agreement with the player." Another local media outlet, Al Marsad, noted that "Al Nassr has tabled a transfer fee of 50 million euros (78 billion won) and has officially sat down at the negotiation table, with Kim Min-jae also showing a positive stance toward a new challenge."
In this situation, Sabuncuoglu claims that Bayern has not only refused to reduce Kim Min-jae's transfer fee but has actually increased it. Furthermore, several teams in the English Premier League (PL) have expressed discomfort regarding Kim Min-jae's high salary. Under these circumstances, increasing the transfer fee means that practically only Saudi Arabia can afford it.
If the situation continues to unfold this way, Kim Min-jae may become a 'nobody' without a team to join or a reason to stay. Already dealing with injuries late in the season and falling behind in competition for the starting position, there are criticisms that Bayern is erecting a transfer fee barrier and blocking the player's path. If Bayern truly considers Kim Min-jae's future, they should provide a stage where he can soar again.
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