Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool are competing with Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United for Napoli central defender Kim Min-jae, according to a report.
Italian journalist Ciro Venerato has said, as quoted in Calcio Napoli 24, that Liverpool are willing to pay €70 million (£61.40 million) for the 26-year-old South Korea international centre-back.
The reporter has said that Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain are also ready to pay big for Kim.
Liverpool and Manchester United competing for Napoli defender Kim Min-jae
Venerato said, as translated by SportWitness: “Dialogues with his entourage began several weeks ago. Napoli are willing to offer €2.5m/year + €500k in simple bonuses to the defender. Possibly getting rid of the release clause as well.
“Focusing on the player’s desire, who is very attached to the team and the city. A way as any to keep him at least another season.
“The agency that takes care of his images and interests are much more buyable and are offering him to various continental clubs.
“Liverpool, Manchester United and PSG are the ones most interested, ready to guarantee him €5m net per season by paying the release clause, which fluctuates between €50-70m.
“The final figure (of the clause) is linked to the club’s turnover and participation in the Champions League.”
HITC Verdict: Kim Min-jae would be brilliant for Liverpool
In our view, Kim Min-jae would be a very good signing for Liverpool in the summer transfer window.
The former Premier League and UEFA Champions League winners could do with signing a top centre-back.
Virgil van Dijk is not the player he once was, and Joel Matip has not been very convincing.
Kim is one of the best centre-backs around.
Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy described the Napoli star as “sensational” on BBC Sport in November 2022.
Earlier this month, Napoli head coach Luciano Spalletti said that Kim is “incredible” and “always aggressive” who “deserves to start every game”.
The big question is whether Kim would be willing to make the move to Liverpool.
Yes, Liverpool are a big club and a global brand, but Napoli are likely to win the Serie A title this season and have already reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
Napoli are on the rise.
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