Ultimately, Lee Kang-in's move to Napoli has fallen through. The dream combination with Kevin De Bruyne never materialized.
Italian transfer market expert Gianluca Di Marzio reported on the 24th (Korea time) that “Napoli has reached a personal agreement with Noah Lang (PSV).” Napoli had targeted Lang as a potential signing for quite some time, and the transfer fee is expected to be around €28 million (approximately 44.2 billion won). Only the final negotiations between Napoli and PSV remain.
The issue does not end here. Di Marzio added that “In addition to Lang, Jadon Sancho (Manchester United), Daan Heymans (Bologna), and Federico Chiesa (Liverpool) are also included on Napoli's list of signings.” In particular, Chiesa has already begun contact with Napoli, while Sancho is linked with Juventus.
However, Lee Kang-in's name is nowhere to be found. He appears to have been completely excluded from Napoli's plans, despite being considered a strong candidate for a transfer in the past. The hope that he could leap forward while teaming up with De Bruyne has now become a futile desire. Napoli has already signed De Bruyne on a free transfer and is pushing hard for Lang as a second summer reinforcement.
Head coach Antonio Conte is quickly reorganizing the squad ahead of the new season, and Lee Kang-in's name is not included in those plans. This aligns with the analysis from Spanish transfer market expert Matteo Moretto, who noted, “PSG classifies Lee Kang-in as an important player and does not need to rush to let him go. The possibility of a move to Napoli is low.” Furthermore, he mentioned, “Lee Kang-in’s next destination may not be in France or Italy. This transfer saga will continue until August.”
The issue lies within PSG's position. Lee Kang-in's playing time has drastically decreased as the second half of the season progressed. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Dejiro Due, and Barcola have dominated the wings, while the midfield combination of Fabian Ruiz, Vitinha, and João Neves has remained solid. He has even found himself frequently sitting on the bench, being surpassed by 2006-born Senni Mayulu.
This is also the case for the UEFA Champions League final and the ongoing Club World Cup. While time passes with him only warming the bench, Lee Kang-in has also removed ‘PSG’ from his Instagram bio, sending transfer hints. This behavior is reminiscent of his past at Mallorca.
However, PSG has no intention of letting Lee Kang-in go easily. Although they have already had one contract renewal offer rejected, the club still considers him a key player. His contract runs until the summer of 2028, leaving PSG with no reason to let him go for a bargain price.
Ultimately, Lee Kang-in's future depends on how much the teams interested in him can persuade PSG. Reports are also emerging that clubs in the English Premier League are paying attention to Lee Kang-in's skills and versatility. In fact, agent Javier Garcia is said to have been in contact with Manchester United, Aston Villa, and Everton.
Where will Lee Kang-in's new home be this summer? Although the meeting with De Bruyne has fallen through, opportunities still remain.
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