The future of 'wall defender' Kim Min-jae (28, Bayern Munich) has been analyzed again, suggesting it may head towards the Turkish stage. Both his former club Fenerbahçe, where he played for a season, and another strong team Galatasaray have thrown themselves into the race for Kim Min-jae, heating up the transfer market.
Akşam reported on the 14th (Korea time) that "the two prestigious clubs of the Super League, Fenerbahçe and Galatasaray, are both moving forward with Kim Min-jae as a candidate for acquisition," adding that "Kim Min-jae is currently one of the hottest transfer targets in Turkey."
Kim Min-jae became the subject of criticism after failing to meet expectations following his transfer to Bayern Munich last season. Although he joined Bayern Munich for a transfer fee of 50 million euros (80.5 billion won), he received backlash from fans and local media for making mistakes in several important matches.
TZ pointed out that "Kim Min-jae has not shown consistency and has produced disappointing moments at critical times."
Ultimately, circumstances indicating that Kim Min-jae has been excluded from the core lineup have been detected within Bayern Munich. Florian Plettenberg, known for his insider information on the German transfer market, stated that "Kim Min-jae is no longer considered a 'non-sale asset' and Bayern Munich is keeping his transfer in mind for this summer."
Bayern Munich is reportedly now engaged in the sale process of Kim Min-jae. The transfer fee set by Bayern Munich ranges from a minimum of 30 million euros (48.3 billion won) to a maximum of 35 million euros (56.4 billion won), which is lower than the amount when he was acquired. This is interpreted as an intention to quickly finalize the transaction, even at a loss.
Meanwhile, interest from major European clubs in Kim Min-jae remains strong. Newcastle United, Chelsea, Juventus, and Barcelona are monitoring the situation, and recent contacts have been confirmed with his former team Fenerbahçe and Turkish champion Galatasaray.
Kim Min-jae had only one season at Fenerbahçe in 2021, but he was regarded as a top defender in the league and later transferred to Napoli. At Napoli, he led the team to win Serie A and had the best season of his career, which enabled him to join Bayern Munich. However, at Bayern Munich, he faced the dual challenges of an Achilles tendon injury and competition for a starting position, ultimately falling short of expectations in both playing time and performance.
Akşam reported that "Galatasaray has already delivered an official proposal for Kim Min-jae's transfer to Bayern Munich, and Fenerbahçe is also ready to sit at the negotiation table." In particular, it is said that Galatasaray has identified Kim Min-jae as the next project while nearing the acquisition of Napoli striker Victor Osimhen.
Meanwhile, Kim Min-jae started his pro career at Jeonbuk Hyundai and established himself as a top defender in Europe through stints at Beijing Guoan, Fenerbahçe, Napoli, and Bayern Munich. He has recorded 10 goals and 5 assists in a total of 283 matches, and he has collected trophies from K League 1, Serie A, and Bundesliga. In 2023, he ranked 22nd among the final nominees for the Ballon d'Or, an exceptional status for an Asian defender.
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