Napoli is making efforts to secure the future of key defender Kim Min-Jae by offering him a new contract, but Manchester United is prepared to tempt him with a higher salary agreement.
According to La Repubblica, Kim’s existing contract contains a release clause of approximately €60 million, which exclusively applies to foreign clubs. This valuation does not deter the interest of two English clubs, namely Manchester United and Manchester City.
Aurelio de Laurentiis, Napoli’s president, is determined not to let the South Korean defender slip away. Consequently, on May 10th, De Laurentiis and Kim’s agent engaged in discussions to explore the possibility of revising the current contract, including increasing the player’s wages and modifying the release clause.
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Presently, Manchester United stands as the frontrunner in pursuing Kim’s services. Although Napoli’s proposed salary adjustment would cap his wages at €4.5 million per season, the English club is willing to go beyond that figure by offering him €7 million per season.
Kim currently earns €2 million annually. Meanwhile, Manchester City’s manager, Pep Guardiola, highly rates Kim, considering him as a potential replacement for Aymeric Laporte, who is expected to depart this summer.
De Laurentiis is determined to make every possible effort to persuade Kim to remain with Napoli for the upcoming season. However, it should be noted that Kim is expected to undergo military training during the summer. Coinciding with Napoli’s pre-season trip to South Korea, the defender might undergo training precisely when his release clause becomes active.
The battle for Kim Min-Jae’s signature intensifies, with Manchester United’s attractive wage offer posing a serious challenge to Napoli’s hopes of retaining the talented South Korean defender.
