Max Eberl, Director General of Bayern Munich, mentioned Kim Min-jae (29).
Bayern news, primarily reported by 'Bayern & Germany,' cited an interview Eberl had with the German media 'Bild' on the 2nd (Korean time).
Eberl stated, 'Both Kim Min-jae and João Palhinha will be included in the squad until the end of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025. After that, we will monitor the transfer market situation.'
Bayern will face Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in the quarterfinals of the Club World Cup on the 5th.
As the possibility of a major transfer movement for Korean players active on the European stage increases, Kim Min-jae is also being mentioned as a strong candidate for transfer. While Son Heung-min (Tottenham) is receiving the most attention, local media agree that there is a significant possibility that Kim Min-jae could leave the team.
Despite an Achilles injury last season, Kim Min-jae consistently started for Bayern. He participated in matches without adequate recovery time while dealing with injuries since October.
The reason was clear. At the time, Bayern's defense was severely depleted due to a series of injuries. Dayot Upamecano, Alphonso Davies, and Hiroki Ito all left the lineup simultaneously. Kim Min-jae, who was not in optimal condition, had to start in every match. However, as his appearances continued, his performance declined, and local German media criticized him.
Ultimately, Kim Min-jae's name was added to Bayern's sale target list. Florian Plettenberg, a journalist from Sky Sports, reported, 'Bayern classified Kim Min-jae as one of the sale candidates in this summer transfer market. They are aware of the interest from other clubs and plan to allow a transfer if specific proposals come in.'
Even if Kim Min-jae stays with the team, it is expected that maintaining his starting position will be difficult. 'Bild' projected, 'With the arrival of Jonatan Tah, Kim Min-jae's position will become even narrower.'
Speculation regarding the recruitment of a replacement for Kim Min-jae continues. Previously, Thomas Araujo from Benfica was mentioned as a transfer candidate for Bayern, and recently, Renato Veiga from Chelsea has also been on the radar.
European transfer market expert Fabrizio Romano explained, 'Bayern has added Renato Veiga to the list of four center-backs they are considering for acquisition this summer. However, their recruitment depends on Kim Min-jae's transfer situation and negotiation timing.'
However, as of now, there have been no official offers for Kim Min-jae. The German media 'Merkur' reported, 'Kim Min-jae remains on the sale target list. Bayern has set a transfer fee of 50 million euros (approximately 80 billion won). However, there are currently no proposals. If there are no offers, there is a possibility that Kim Min-jae could stay.'
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