Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) is intensifying its efforts for restructuring, making Lee Kang-in's (24, PSG) transfer possibility more likely.
The French media Foot01 reported on the 14th (Korea Standard Time) that "PSG, having concluded the season, has embarked on a squad overhaul. Several players are packing their bags. Lee Kang-in and Lucas Hernandez are likely to leave the team during the summer transfer window," citing the PSG-specific channel "PSGINSIDE-ACTUS" social media account.
PSG concluded its season on the 14th with a runner-up finish at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. Lee Kang-in's position became increasingly unstable in the second half of the season. It is reported that manager Luis Enrique has completely excluded Lee Kang-in from next season's core setup.
Until the first half of the 2023-2024 season, Lee Kang-in had maintained confidence within the team. He participated in all 23 matches that PSG played, scoring 6 goals and providing 2 assists. However, after Khvicha Kvaratskhelia joined during the winter transfer window, his status became uncertain. He made only 22 appearances out of 35 matches in the second half of the season, and his playing time dropped from an average of 56.5 minutes to 49.9 minutes.
Even after PSG confirmed its early league title, Lee Kang-in was excluded from the list for the Ligue 1 final match. He did not play even a minute in the Coupe de France final or the UEFA Champions League final. Although the club achieved a treble, Lee Kang-in remained just a bench member.
There is a growing sentiment within PSG that there is no longer a reason to continue with Lee Kang-in. Manager Enrique has already finalized the starting and backup lineups. He has set a policy to fill the rotation spots with players who fit his tactics for the next season. Lee Kang-in has been completely excluded from the plans.
Foot01 noted that "Enrique no longer relies on Lee Kang-in. He was given opportunities early in the season, but after showing his limitations, trust was lost." However, "PSG will not let Lee Kang-in go for a bargain price. They aim to secure finances through a reasonable transfer fee."
PSG has set Lee Kang-in's minimum transfer fee at €30 million (about 48.1 billion won).
There are clubs showing interest. Italy's Napoli has been monitoring Lee Kang-in since last summer and is working on acquiring him again this summer. However, specific negotiations have not yet begun. Manchester United is also consistently monitoring the situation, but no official offer has been made.
After the match against Kuwait in the final Asian qualifiers for the 2026 North and Central American World Cup held at Seoul World Cup Stadium in June, Lee Kang-in stated, "I don't know what will happen next," adding, "Whether I stay or leave, I will do my best to show good performance."
[Photo] PSG social media account, ⓒGettyimages (Reproduction and redistribution prohibited)
[OSEN]