Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) have given up on Kim Min-jae, citing his high price tag, and their next target is a defender with a hefty transfer fee.
Napoli defender Kim Min-jae has been in sensational form this season and is attracting interest from a number of clubs. His defensive prowess, coupled with the €50 million buyout clause in his Napoli contract, has put him on the radar of many big clubs looking to bolster their defense.
PSG was one of them. PSG’s interest in Kim was revealed by local French media outlets and leading reporters, and it was reported that the club’s president, Luis Campos, made a move to sign Kim.
However, PSG’s interest in Kim did not last long. While Manchester United and Newcastle were among the favorites to land the player, PSG never made an offer.
However, a French media outlet has revealed why PSG gave up on Kim and who they are targeting to replace him.
“Luca Hernandez wants to push Kim Min-jae out and join PSG,” French media outlet RMC Sports reported on February 2 (KST).
France international Luca Hernandez is a Bayern Munich defender who used to play on the left side of the defense during his time at Atletico Madrid, but in recent years, he has been playing more often as the left stopper in the back three. In that position, he has excelled with his steady defense and ability to get forward.
According to RMC Sport, “Hernandez said he has no intention of extending his stay at Bayern. He wants to join PSG. He is currently recovering from a ruptured cruciate ligament and has not played since the opening match of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar between France and Australia,” said RMC Sport, which revealed Hernandez’s intention to move on from his injury.
“Paris will no longer approach for Kim Min-jae. PSG is optimistic about signing Hernandez, and in addition to his skills, Hernandez has a mentality that is in line with the direction the PSG management wants to pursue,” explaining PSG’s switch from Kim Min-jae to Hernandez.
However, RMC Sport’s reasoning for giving up on Kim is somewhat surprising. “PSG will not proceed further with Kim Min-jae, who has been called up by the Premier League. The Napoli defender is too expensive,” citing Kim’s price as an issue.
In terms of price, Hernandez is expected to be higher than Kim, but not lower. Hernandez cost a whopping €80 million (approximately $113.2 billion) when he joined Munich, the highest transfer fee ever recorded by a Bundesliga club. It’s highly unlikely that Munich would sell a player who cost them that much money 스포츠토토.
Kim Min-jae, on the other hand, is capped. His contract with Napoli includes a buyout clause, which allows Napoli to sign him without negotiating with the player, as long as they meet the buyout amount. According to reports, his buyout will be around €50 million, making him cheaper than Hernandez.
With PSG’s departure, Kim’s potential destination has moved closer to England, and much attention will be paid to what his transfer fee and weekly wages will be.