Liverpool are reportedly interested in signing 26-year-old South Korean defender Kim Min-jae from Serie A club Napoli.
According to a report from Corriere dello Sport, as relayed by Paisley Gates, Liverpool are interested in signing Kim Min-jae. And they could look to make a move for the 26-year-old Napoli defender at the end of the season.
The South Korean international has a release clause ranging between €44-70 million, and it can be activated between July 1 and July 15 this year. It will be interesting to see if Liverpool are willing to spend that kind of money on a centre-back, especially with players like Virgil Van Dijk, Joel Matip and Ibrahima Konate at their disposal.
Furthermore, the Reds have Joe Gomez at the club as well. That said, Gomez has been a shadow of his former self since returning from a long-term injury. And it will not be surprising if Jurgen Klopp decides to replace the player in the coming months.
However, a player like Kim Min-jae will demand regular first-team football. And Liverpool might not be able to provide him with that platform, especially with Konate and van Dijk at the club. The Frenchman has firmly established himself as the first-choice partner for the Dutch international, and Klopp is unlikely to displace them anytime soon.
Meanwhile, Kim has established himself as a key player for Napoli since joining the Serie A club. And he has proven himself to be a worthy replacement for Kalidou Koulibaly, who joined Chelsea during the summer transfer window.
The 26-year-old has been linked with other English clubs as well, and it will be interesting to see if his suitors are prepared to activate his release clause in the summer. The player is currently focused on his development with Napoli and he is not angling for a move away from the Serie A club.
Kim recently admitted that transfer rumours surrounding his future are disturbing, and he is concentrating on performing at a high level for the Italian club. It seems that the South Korean defender is happy at Napoli. So it could be difficult to prise him away from the Serie A club.
However, a move to the Premier League can be an exciting challenge for most players. And it will be interesting to see if the 26-year-old is keen on joining Liverpool should the opportunity arise. Klopp could certainly help him improve as a player and establish him as one of the best central defenders in the world.
