"Why aren’t you going out?"
Foot01 reported on the 14th (Korean time) that "Lee Kang-in and Luka Hernandez have been completely excluded from coach Luis Enrique's plans."
PSG concluded its season with a 0-3 defeat against Chelsea in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup final on the 13th (Korean time). Although it achieved the historic feat of winning its first UEFA Champions League, some players in the club were classified as targets for departure this summer.
Lee Kang-in did not participate in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup final held on the 14th at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. His club, PSG, suffered a 0-3 defeat against Chelsea, led by Cole Palmer’s remarkable performance. Despite the heavy loss, coach Luis Enrique ultimately did not call up Lee Kang-in.
In effect, Lee Kang-in has been sidelined from PSG's "core strength". With formidable attacking options such as Désiré Doué, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Bradley Barcola, and Ousmane Dembélé, it has become difficult to even find Lee Kang-in's name on the roster. In midfield, Vitinha and João Neves have firmly established their positions, causing Lee Kang-in's usage to sharply decline.
In fact, even when trailing 0-3 in the first half, Lee Kang-in’s name was not called. Leading up to this match, PSG’s pre-season preparations came under scrutiny. Although it is considered the strongest team, the match concluded with a historic defeat, leading to unusual reactions. Many felt it had a sense of continuation from last season.
PSG concluded the 2024-25 season with a 0-3 defeat in the Club World Cup final. Though it ended the season disappointed by giving the championship to Chelsea, it had a significant year by achieving the club's first UEFA Champions League title. However, as the season progressed, coach Luis Enrique's options for managing the players increasingly narrowed.
Of course, achieving the treble has proven the strength of the starters, but the gap between the key and backup players has become glaringly evident. Consequently, PSG has embarked on a major squad overhaul. According to multiple local sources, Lee Kang-in has also been classified as a strong candidate to leave PSG this summer.
Indeed, shortly after the Club World Cup, PSG insiders clearly pointed out Lee Kang-in and Lucas Hernandez as targets for release. Notably, Napoli and Manchester United have shown a strong interest in acquiring Lee Kang-in, and PSG is preparing for an auction-style negotiation with the aim of maximizing the transfer fee. Locally, a transfer fee of around €30 million (approximately 47.7 billion won) is being discussed.
Foot01 stated, "Lee Kang-in received significant playing time from coach Luis Enrique early in the season, but his standing rapidly diminished in the second half. He remained on the bench for major finals including the UEFA Champions League, domestic cups, and the Club World Cup, seemingly losing the coach's trust completely. PSG is determined to let Lee Kang-in go, but plans to avoid releasing him at a bargain price and will focus on recovering the transfer fee while strengthening the squad simultaneously."
The media emphasized, "PSG plans to overhaul players who have underperformed like Lee Kang-in and Lucas Hernandez this summer and will concurrently strengthen the team. Particularly, Lee Kang-in's transfer is expected to be a major issue not only for PSG but for the entire European transfer market. Several big clubs, including Napoli and Manchester United, are showing interest in Lee Kang-in. PSG will pursue recovery of an appropriate transfer fee and tailored reinforcements rather than a bargain sale."
Lee Kang-in's transfer from PSG now seems to be a matter of time. Prestigious European clubs like Napoli and Manchester United are fiercely competing for his acquisition, and PSG is also busy working to maximize the transfer fee while reshaping the team. As one of the major talking points of the European transfer market this summer, football circles are focused on where Lee Kang-in's new challenge will head.
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