Man Utd handed huge boost in Kim Min-jae transfer race as target stalls contract talks

Napoli defender Kim Min-jae is stalling over a new contract amid interest from the Premier League, according to talkSPORT.

The South Korean international played a key role in Napoli’s Scudetto-winning campaign making 45 appearances across all competitions while chipping in with two goals and two assists.

His impressive performances saw him named the 2022/23 Serie A defender of the season after helping the Gli Azzurri record 18 clean sheets – the third most in the Italian top-flight.

Min-jae was signed as a long-term replacement for Kalidou Koulibaly, who joined Chelsea last summer. But he could be on his way out of the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium just one year after joining Napoli.

The 26-year-old has a release clause in his contract that could see him leave Napoli for a fee of around £42 million from the start of July, which has sparked interest from Manchester United and Newcastle United.

Min-Jae’s contract at Napoli runs until 2025, but the club is looking to tie the impressive defender to a new long-term deal that removes his current buy-out clause. 

However, the South Korean is reluctant to pen a new deal, with reports suggesting he has already agreed personal terms with the Premier League giants.

Man United are leading the race for Min-jae, but Newcastle are hopeful of thwarting their transfer with Eddie Howe looking to bolster his squad after securing Champions League qualification.

Min-jae joining Erik ten Hag’s squad could spell trouble for Harry Maguire, who has endured a torrid time at Old Trafford after falling behind Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane in the pecking order.

The 30-year-old started just 16 of his 31 games across all competitions and is expected to leave the Theatre of Dreams despite having a contract that runs until 2025.

Despite losing Ten Hag’s faith, Maguire is not short on potential suitors, with Newcastle, Aston Villa, West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur vying for his signature.