Is it possible that Lee Kang-in (24, Paris Saint-Germain) and Kevin De Bruyne (34, Napoli) will not be able to play together? Lee Kang-in has disappeared from Napoli's transfer list.

Italian transfer market expert Gianluca Di Marzio reported on the 24th (Korea time) that "Napoli has reached an agreement with Noah Lang (PSV Eindhoven). However, he is not the only player."

Di Marzio stated that "Napoli has completed a personal agreement with PSV's Lang. New contact with PSV is expected within hours, and if an agreement is reached, a transfer fee of 28 million euros (approximately 44.2 billion won) will be set." He explained that "Lang has already identified Napoli as his next destination. Now the transaction can proceed in earnest."

Napoli's plans for strengthening their team do not stop here. Di Marzio stated, "The names linked with Napoli are not limited to Lang. Napoli's transfer list also includes Jadon Sancho, who is being targeted by Juventus, and Dandun Doye, as well as Federico Chiesa. There has already been new contact with Chiesa."

He also added, "Napoli wants to sign two more players. One of them is expected to be finalized by June 25. And that person could be Lang." If this is the case, Lang is expected to become Napoli's second summer signing after De Bruyne.

However, Lee Kang-in's name was not on the list. He had recently been on Napoli's list of winger signings, but he disappeared after negotiations stalled. In conclusion, Lee Kang-in's chances of moving to Napoli have diminished.

This aligns with the previous report by journalist Matteo Moretto. Having had a strong reputation regarding Lee Kang-in from his time at Mallorca, Moretto recently claimed that Lee Kang-in has found it difficult to leave PSG. He appeared on Fabrizio Romano's YouTube channel and said, "PSG does not need to rush to sell Lee Kang-in. The club classifies him as an important player."

He continued, "For now, the possibility of Napoli signing Lee Kang-in is decreasing. He may leave PSG, but if he does, it seems unlikely to be to Italy or France. The talk of Lee Kang-in's transfer may turn into a long-term story that continues until August."

Napoli wanted to strengthen their right wing through the acquisition of Lee Kang-in. They pursued his signing since the last winter transfer market and once again tracked him down this summer as his position at PSG has weakened.

Especially, it is known that Giovanni Manna, the sports director, holds him in high regard. Napoli succeeded in winning the Serie A title last season with manager Antonio Conte. They fell to 10th place in the league in the 2023-2024 season but produced opposite results in a year.

Now, Napoli is actively moving to lift trophies in the coming season. Chairman Aurelio De Laurentiis succeeded in keeping manager Conte in place, and they have already signed 'pass master' De Bruyne. With the addition of Lee Kang-in in mind, football fans in Korea are eagerly anticipating the sight of Lee Kang-in and De Bruyne exchanging passes.

However, it seems that Napoli is turning their eyes elsewhere. This is not entirely welcome news for Lee Kang-in. He has seen a significant drop in playing time at PSG in the second half of the season. He played multiple roles in the first half, relieving some of the burden from manager Luis Enrique, but by the end of the season, he was often kept on the bench and was even outperformed by the promising 2006-born Senny Mayulu.

Ultimately, it is reported that Lee Kang-in has requested a transfer from PSG. He has even hinted at a transfer directly. Early last month, he removed the PSG team name from his Instagram profile. During his time at Mallorca, he had also removed the Mallorca team name from Instagram before moving to PSG.

The problem is that PSG does not seem willing to easily let Lee Kang-in go. PSG has already proposed a new contract to him, which was rejected, but they do not appear to be giving up easily. With Lee Kang-in's contract lasting until 2028, if PSG demands a high transfer fee, it will not be easy to push for a transfer.

At least, it is a relief that there are many parties interested in Lee Kang-in. According to Moretto, he is attracting attention not only from Italy but also from Spain, England, and Saudi Arabia.

Particularly, it is reported that Premier League teams are actively monitoring Lee Kang-in. Since his agent, Javier Garido, has visited England several times, there is potential for future transfer negotiations to gain momentum. It is expected that persuading PSG effectively is crucial for Lee Kang-in and the teams interested in him.

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

[OSEN]