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With the futures of two current Manchester United defenders up in the air, there is a possibility that the Red Devils could dip into the summer transfer market for a new centre-back.
Manager Erik ten Hag has preferred a defensive partnership of World Cup winners Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez and the duo have done much better than their previous incumbents in that position.
Victor Lindelof and Harry Maguire have not started as many games as they would have liked and there is a very real possibility of one or both leaving in the summer in search of regular game-time.
United need a new CB
The 20-time English league champions have been linked with a plethora of defenders including Jurrien Timber of Ajax, Portuguese pair of Goncalo Inacio and Antonio Silva and Premier League star Mohammed Salisu.
But the favourite seems to be Napoli’s shining light Kim Min-jae. His arrival at Naples has coincided with the club’s best form in years as they look to be favourites for both the Serie A and Champions League.
The 26-year-old has helped his club keep 14 clean sheets in 27 Serie A games and has also chipped in with two goals and one assist in the league.
That was not a possibility many people had thought of when the club decided to part ways with their long-term star defender Kalidou Koulibaly, who joined Chelsea.
According to Il Mattino, Aurelio De Laurentiis is already aware that the price of their star players is well-beyond the means of their rivals in Italy.
Napoli open to offloading Kim
The club are open to selling their star assets, but only for the right price. And despite reports on the contrary, Kim’s release clause is not €50 million.
“At the time of his engagement he asked – and obtained – a variable release clause ranging from 55 to 70 million euros depending on the buyer. To be exercised, if necessary, in June,” the report mentioned.
And De Laurentiis is open to selling the South Korean international because he learnt his lesson the hard way after refusing an offer of over €100 million from a Manchester club for Koulibaly.
The Nigerian defender ended up leaving for Chelsea for only €38million at the start of the current season.
The Reds should have no problem in paying that amount for a defender of Kim’s calibre. He will be a definite upgrade on both the Swede and England man and could eventually occupy Varane’s position in the long-term.
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