Lee Kang-in (24, Paris Saint-Germain) has ultimately been removed from Napoli's transfer list. The expectation that he could team up with Kevin De Bruyne (34, Napoli) now seems unlikely.

Italian transfer market expert Gianluca Di Marzio reported on the 24th (Korea time) that "Napoli has reached a personal agreement with Noah Lang (PSV Eindhoven)," stating that "he has considered Napoli as his next destination for a long time."

Di Marzio also noted that "the transfer fee is expected to be around 28 million euros (about 44.2 billion won). The final contacts between Napoli and PSV are expected to take place soon," explaining that "the transaction can now proceed in earnest."

The winger Napoli is targeting is not only Lang. Di Marzio added, "Lang is not the only player Napoli wants. Napoli's transfer list also includes Jadon Sancho (Manchester United), Daan Heymans (Bologna), and Federico Chiesa (Liverpool). Among them, Sancho is receiving interest from Juventus, and there have already been new contacts between Chiesa and Napoli."

Lee Kang-in's name was ultimately not mentioned. He was once considered a strong candidate for transfer, but it appears he has been excluded from Napoli's plans due to a lack of progress in negotiations.

Currently, Napoli is accelerating the reinforcement of its attack. Following the recent acquisition of De Bruyne as a free agent, they are ready to make Lang their second signing this summer. Since they want to quickly assemble a new squad with coach Antonio Conte, the possibility of Lee Kang-in joining them is diminishing.

This aligns with the reports of Spanish transfer market expert Matteo Moreto. He, known for his reliability regarding Lee Kang-in since his time at Mallorca, recently stated, "PSG does not need to rush to sell Lee Kang-in. The club categorizes him as an important player."

Moreto revealed through Fabrizio Romano's YouTube channel that "PSG values Lee Kang-in as an important player and has no reason to let him go hastily," noting that "while there is a possibility of Lee Kang-in leaving PSG, it seems unlikely that his next destination will be Italy or France. This transfer saga could continue until August."

Lee Kang-in's standing at PSG has noticeably diminished. His playing time has sharply decreased in the second half of the season. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Dejan Kulusevski, and Bradley Barcola have filled the winger roles, while the midfield combination of Fabian Ruiz, Vitinha, and João Neves has become the solid starting lineup.

While Lee Kang-in was versatile and held various roles, that is no longer the case. By the end of the season, he was almost relegated to the bench, being overshadowed by the promising 2006-born player Seni Mayulu. He spent most of the UEFA Champions League, which PSG won for the first time in club history, and the ongoing FIFA Club World Cup on the bench.

Lee Kang-in himself seems to be preparing for a change. Early last month, he hinted at a transfer by deleting PSG's team name from his Instagram bio. This mirrors his past behavior during his time at Mallorca, where he also removed club information from Instagram before transferring to PSG.

However, PSG does not appear to be willing to let Lee Kang-in go easily. They had offered a contract extension, which was declined, but they still hesitate to release him. Most importantly, Lee Kang-in's contract runs until the summer of 2028, so there is no reason for PSG to let him go for a low transfer fee.

Ultimately, Lee Kang-in's transfer will likely depend on how well the player and the interested teams can persuade PSG. There’s no choice but to find common ground through negotiations between PSG and the club.

Now that a move to Napoli has become virtually impossible, there are still hopeful elements. Moreto reported that "Lee Kang-in is receiving interest from clubs in England, Spain, and Saudi Arabia," especially noting that Premier League teams are paying attention to his playing style.

In fact, Lee Kang-in's agent, Javier Garrido, has already visited England several times. It is reported that he held talks with Manchester United, Aston Villa, and Everton. According to Spain's 'El Desmarque,' it cannot be ruled out that Lee Kang-in's name and that of Javi Guerra were directly mentioned during these discussions, indicating that summer transfer negotiations could gain momentum.

[Photo] ⓒGettyimages (Unauthorized reproduction and redistribution prohibited), Napoli, Kicking Cleats, Lee Kang-in's social media.

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