Manchester United have reportedly pencilled in a summer swoop for Napoli star Kim Min-Jae as Erik ten Hag attempts to bolster his defence at Old Trafford.
The Red Devils have been linked with the centre-back for some time with the South Korean's performances for the Italian giants since his arrival from Fenerbahce not going unnoticed. He has only been at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona since July but has stepped into the spot left by Kalidou Koulibaly admirably - the Senegalese leaving for Chelsea.
A number of other clubs are reportedly ready to make a move for Kim. Tottenham have regularly been linked with a move but it appears that the Red Devils already have plans in place to sign the defender.
As per TuttoMercatoWeb, a move in the summer of 2023 has already been pencilled in with Ten Hag prioritising a move for a striker in January amid Cristiano Ronaldo's explosive exit from Old Trafford ahead of the transfer window opening.
It is suggested that the Red Devils - and any interested party for that matter - would have to pay the €44m (£38m) release clause currently written into the defender's contract to stand any chance of a deal. Intriguingly, Kim has already weighed in on his future with rumours beginning to circulate during the World Cup and was keen to shut down any speculation.
Quoted by You Quiz on the Block, Kim said: "There are a lot of transfer stories around me, but I've only been at Napoli for six months. I've avoided interviews, and one of the reasons is that the rumours about me disturb me."
Would Kim Min-Jae be a good signing for Man Utd? Share your thoughts in the comments below
It remains to be seen if the Red Devils are capable of sealing a deal for the South Korean in a few months' time but either way, there is expected to be a mass overhaul in defence. Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez are Ten Hag's first-choice pairing.
Harry Maguire has endured a hugely difficult season and was left on the bench in favour of left-back Luke Shaw in United's victory over Nottingham Forest due to illness. Former Red Devil Paul Parker has hit out at the claim though, suggesting that Ten Hag was not telling the full truth.
"First of all we have to say that Luke Shaw did very well playing as a centre half," he said. "He barely made a mistake and Manchester United didn't really miss Harry Maguire.
"But to be honest, I don't believe the story about Harry Maguire being ill. It was a lie and it is totally fabricated. It doesn't make any sense at all. On a cold rainy night in Manchester, there is no way you would ever let an ill man sit on the bench if he wasn't ready. He was ready but Erik ten Hag preferred to play with Luke Shaw."
While Red Devils' captain Maguire faces an uncertain Old Trafford future, the same could also be said of defensive colleague Victor Lindelof. The 28-year-old has made just five league appearances this term and has just a year-and-a-half remaining on his current contract.
