Man Utd's 'top transfer target' is not a Ronaldo replacement

Karan Tejwani

Updated: 1 Jan 2023 17:52 GMT
2 min read

Erik ten Hag, Cristiano Ronaldo, 2022/23 — © ProShots

Manchester United are going to be busy in future transfer windows and have a few targets in mind for who they wish to sign.

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Erik ten Hag wants to improve his squad and is looking at various positions to get better at, and despite a depleted attacking line, there is another position where he sees his priority target.

The departure of Cristiano Ronaldo after his unsanctioned interview with Piers Morgan left a gap in the United attack, leaving them with just Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial.

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However, it is at the back where Ten Hag’s biggest transfer target is, as he’s looking at Napoli defender Kim Min-jae, who has impressed this season.

Napoli have been sensational in the first half of the campaign, sitting on top of Serie A and winning their Champions League group.

Ten Hag eyes Napoli defender

They are on course to win the league title and can go far in Europe, and although it is their attack that is getting all the plaudits, Min-jae has done excellently at the back.

He only joined Napoli in the summer from Fenerbahce and has immediately made an impression in Serie A, with interest in him coming from various sides across Europe.

READ: Ten Hag sends Man Utd powerful transfer message

Manchester United want to sign him to strengthen at the back, having already captured Lisandro Martinez from Ajax in the summer.

According to Calciomercato, the South Korean defender will cost €50 million to sign and that is a reasonable fee for Manchester United, given they’ve spent so much to improve at the back and often struggled to do so.

Harry Maguire’s future at the club is uncertain, while Victor Lindelof isn’t seen as a first-choice player, making Ten Hag want other targets.

With Martinez impressing alongside Raphael Varane and the addition of Casemiro to the side, Manchester United have looked solid, and Min-jae would only make them better.