The 26-year-old South Korean defender Kim Min-jae of Napoli has been linked to Liverpool
Liverpool is reportedly interested in signing Kim Min-Jae, according to a story from Corriere dello Sport that was relayed by Paisley Gates. They could consider trading for the 26-year-old Napoli defender when the current campaign concludes.
This year, between July 1 and 15, the South Korean international has a release clause in his contract worth between €44 and €70 million. It will be intriguing to see whether Liverpool is ready to spend that type of money on a centre-back, particularly with players like Virgil Van Dijk, Joel Matip and Ibrahima Konate at their disposal.
As an added bonus, Joe Gomez is now a member of the Reds’ roster. However, since coming back from a lengthy injury, Gomez has been a shell of his former self. Jurgen Klopp perhaps benching the player shortly is not out of the question.
A player of Kim Min-jae’s calibre though will expect to play significant minutes each game with the first team. With Konate and van Dijk already on the roster, it’s possible that Liverpool won’t be able to give him the chance to shine. The Frenchman has clearly established himself as the first-choice partner for the Dutch international, and Klopp is unlikely to dislodge them anytime soon.
Since joining Napoli of Serie A, Kim has been an integral part of the team. And he has established himself as a competent alternative for Kalidou Koulibaly, who was transferred to Chelsea in the summer.
It remains to be seen whether the other English teams interested in the 26-year-old are willing to trigger his release clause this summer. The midfielder is committed to his growth with Napoli and has no plans to leave the Serie A club in the near future.
Despite the distraction of transfer rumours, Kim has been focusing on his performance for the Italian club. The South Korean defender is content with his role at Napoli. Because of this, he may be tough to lure away from the Serie A team.
While a transfer to the Premier League might be intimidating for some players, it can also be a fantastic opportunity for others. It remains to be seen whether the 26-year-old would be interested in joining Liverpool if the chance presented itself. I think Klopp could help him develop as a player and make him into a top-tier centre defender.
