Napoli defender Kim Min-jae will sign for Manchester United this summer after a firm report outlined details of the arrangement due to take the South Korean to Old Trafford.
Red Devils boss Erik ten Hag is firmly fixing his attention on FA Cup final glory over Manchester City a week today. Plotting City’s downfall at Wembley will deny Pep Guardiola’s side the chance of securing a historic Treble. The feat was famously achieved by United themselves back in 1999.
However, the long-term goal for Ten Hag will be to wrestle back Premier League glory from City. Indeed, Guardiola and Co have won a staggering five titles in six seasons. They have also this season become only the second team in Premier League history – following on from United – to become champions three years in succession.
In order to further close the gap on the blue half of Manchester, Ten Hag knows he needs another successful summer. Last season, he was allowed to spend in excess of £200m. Few can argue against the results though with the club making satisfying progress.
This time around, though, and with a takeover saga hopefully soon reaching an end, United look primed for their biggest summer yet.
To that end, a report earlier on identified an incredible 10-strong list of transfer targets for United this summer.
And while Ten Hag won’t be able to sign them all, United fans can likely expect three to four marquee signings to arrive in the coming weeks.
To that end, a new striker, midfielder and defender figure prominently on their wishlist. Meanwhile, speculation is rising that a new goalkeeper is also being targeted.
Man Utd closing in on Kim transfer agreement
However, by reports in Italy are convinced United’s first signing of the new season will be for a new defender.
And their interest in Kim has been well documented, especially in light of his €60m exit clause.
Indeed, that £54m arrangement kicks in during the first two weeks of July. Napoli have been trying to convince him to sign a new deal; sadly to no avail.
As a result, reports this week have grown that a move to Manchester United is imminent. Moreover, the reigning Serie A champions appear to have settled on a Liverpool target as Kim’s likely replacement.
Despite all the claims, Kim’s agents have spoken out to downplay claims that a move to United is imminent.
All the same, Italian paper Il Mattino are utterly insistent the transfer will go through.
And in Saturday’s edition of their paper, they boldly claim Kim ‘will go to Manchester United this summer’.
Explaining further, they report the signing of the South Korean is ‘crystal clear’ with United paying the ‘full’ €60m release clause to seal the deal.
Lindelof swap rejected by Napoli
That’s because bitter Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has waved away United’s attempts at a swap deal.
To that end, United boss Ten Hag was reportedly looking to offer Victor Lindelof in part exchange. The Sweden defender has performed well in recent weeks, despite falling down the pecking order.
With just a year left on his deal, United won’t stand in his way should a suitable offer come in. As a result, United had reportedly tried bringing down the fee needed to sign Kim by offering Lindelof in exchange.
Indeed, knowing he now has no chance of keeping Kim, Il Mattino claim De Laurentiis has waved away United’s swap attempts, making it clear they will have to pay the entire release clause up front if they want to sign Kim.
That, of course, will prove no issue for United, though will mean they will have to hawk Lindelof’s services elsewhere to get him off the books.
Kim, meanwhile, has already put the wheels in motion by ‘finding a mansion in Alderley Edge’.
