MANCHESTER UNITED are in advanced talks to sign Napoli defender Kim Min-jae, according to reports.
Kim, 26, has been one of Napoli’s star players this season as they cruised to the Serie A title.
And now according to Italian outlet TuttoMercatoWeb, United are eager to activate his release clause.
The report suggests Kim’s release clause with the newly-crowned Italian champions is between £43million and £52m.
The Red Devils will reportedly activate this clause in the first 15 days of June.
Negotiations between the two parties appear to have been ongoing for some time.
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United are said to have been in contact with Kim since the World Cup, and have made him their first priority in the summer.
The 47-cap South Korean has appeared 33 times in the league for Napoli this season.
His influence on their success cannot be understated either.
He has helped them to marshal Italy’s meanest defence, conceding just 23 goals and registering 17 clean sheets.
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And having only joined for £16m from Fenerbache as Kalidou Koulibaly’s replacement last summer, they may see it as the perfect opportunity to make a big profit.
Erik ten Hag wants to add to his defensive roster after seeing both Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane suffer long-term injuries in the season run-in. #
This has seen Luke Shaw forced to fill in as an auxiliary left centre-back.
Club captain Harry Maguire could be on his way out in the summer as Ten Hag seeks to improve his options in a bid to return United to the summit of the English game.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk