Kim Min-Jae to Man Utd: The state of play - Fabrizio Romano

Carlo Garganese

• Updated: 24 May 2023 19:12 BST
• 3 min read

Fabrizio Romano has given an update on the state of play of Kim Min-Jae’s reported transfer to Manchester United.

According to Romano on his YouTube channel, United are interested in signing Kim but have still not placed an official offer for the Napoli defender.

Romano clarifies that United have not tabled a transfer bid to Napoli because the release clause they would pay is not active until July.

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What is Kim Min-Jae’s release clause?

Kim has a minimum fee release clause in his contract of around €50 million, valid for the first two weeks in July, which makes Napoli powerless to let him go.

The Italian journalist does add that United have begun talks with Kim on the player’s side with regards to contract and salary.

Attempts by Napoli to give Kim a new contract and remove the clause have proved fruitless.

Min-Jae has been an absolute revelation since joining Napoli from Fenerbahce for €18m last summer, helping the club to their first Scudetto in 33 years.

He was signed as a replacement for Kalidou Koulibaly, who left after eight years to join Chelsea, but Kim has been magnificent at the heart of Napoli’s defence.

This has led to interest from Europe’s biggest clubs, with Man City, Chelsea, Liverpool and Real Madrid all linked to the 26-year-old.

According to Napoli manager Luciano Spalletti, Kim is now the best in the world in his role.

“Kim does at least 20 incredible things per game, for me he truly is the best centre-back in the world,” Spalletti said after Napoli’s 2-0 win over Atalanta in March.

United are likely to be in the market for a centre back this summer as Harry Maguire is expected to leave the club in search of regular first-team football ahead of Euro 2024.