NUFC Gallowgate reported on the 28th (Korean time) that "Newcastle has spoken with Bayern Munich regarding the acquisition of Kim Min-jae, and the player’s side also showed an open attitude towards the transfer." The transfer fee is estimated to be around £30 million (56.1 billion won).

Footboom reported that "Kim Min-jae is positively considering his move to the Premier League, and Bayern Munich is willing to sell him for €30 million," further boosting rumors about a transfer to Newcastle.

Kim Min-jae caught the attention as one of the top defenders in Europe when he transferred from Serie A champion Napoli to Bayern Munich in the summer of 2023. The transfer fee was a staggering €50 million (79.9 billion won). However, he failed to deliver the expected performance and faced criticism from local media and fans, finishing the season sidelined in the competition for a starting position.

In particular, he suffered a long-term absence due to an Achilles tendon injury during the middle of last season, and even after recovery, he made repeated mistakes, which caused him to lose his standing. Bayern Munich's acquisition of Bayer Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah has made Kim Min-jae's potential release seem like a foregone conclusion.

Some speculate that Kim Min-jae could be used as an exchange trade card. Kicker reported that Bayern Munich is considering including Kim Min-jae in a swap deal for attacking resources such as Cody Gakpo of Liverpool and Rafael Leão of AC Milan. This is seen as an attempt to increase Kim Min-jae's utility for financial management and team reinforcements.

On the other hand, Kim Min-jae himself seems to be feeling fatigued from his life in Germany. Having reached the pinnacle of his career by winning the league during his time at Napoli, Kim Min-jae has been through triple hardships of overwork, injuries, and underperformance during his past two seasons at Bayern Munich. He has distanced himself from communication with local fans and has been reported to be psychologically affected by frequent criticism.

In this context, a challenge in the Premier League could represent "a new beginning" for Kim Min-jae. Newcastle has secured a place in the UEFA Champions League, evolving into a competitive team that urgently needs to reinforce its stable defense. If Kim Min-jae joins, there is a high possibility that he could perform as a starter.

Currently, the only Korean center-back playing in the Premier League is Kim Ji-soo (Brentford). However, Kim Ji-soo is still at the promising rookie stage, so Kim Min-jae could effectively become the first "starting caliber Premier League center-back" from Korea.

Additionally, Kim Min-jae’s recovery from injury is progressing positively. He is currently in the United States for the FIFA Club World Cup and has recently returned to team training, preparing for active match participation. If Bayern Munich advances to the quarterfinals or beyond, Kim Min-jae is expected to participate in the tournament’s knockout stage starting in early July. His return to action could lead to an increase in his transfer value.

If Kim Min-jae moves to Newcastle, he will not only become the first Asian defender to ascend as a starting center-back in the Premier League but also gain an opportunity to repay the doubts surrounding him with his performance.

김민재가 뉴캐슬로 향할 경우 아시아 수비수 최초로 프리미어리그 주전 센터백에 등극하는 것은 물론 자신을 둘러싼 의구심을 실력으로 되갚을 기회를 얻게 된다.

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