Kim Min-jae’s transfer to Bayern Munich has been rumored. The Bavarians are said to be the favorites, beating out all the other teams that have been mentioned. It may seem like it came out of nowhere, but there are plenty of reasons to believe that the Bavarians will make a move.
Germany’s Sky Sports reports that Bayern are looking to sign a central defender and have already contacted Napoli. Other media outlets and reporters in Germany and other European countries are also speculating on the possibility of Kim joining Bayern. Fabrizio Romano, a transfer market expert who contributes to The Guardian, observed that “Bayern are the frontrunners”. Italian transfer outlet Gianluca Di Marzio also reported that the Bianconeri are in the running to sign Kim Min-jae, with some even suggesting specific terms of the deal.
Bayern’s potential signing of Kim Min-jae has always been talked about as a possibility. This was due to the potential departure of a number of existing defenders. While the center-back duo of Mathias Düricht and Dayo Upamecano have been considered solid, Bayern have only two full-time professional center-backs. In their absence, two multi-role defenders, Luca Hernandez at left-back and Benjamin Pavard at right-back, have filled in.
With both Hernandez and Pavard recently linked with a move away from Bayern, the Bavarians’ search for a new defender has become urgent. Both French internationals are said to be considering a move to their homeland giants Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).메이저사이트
Kim Min-jae (Napoli). Getty Images
Adding to the mix is the possibility that coach Thomas Tuchel wants to replace Upamecano. Upamecano has recently been linked with a move to Germany by the likes of Kicker. Upamecano’s defensive and buildup skills are world-class, but the problem is the ups and downs and mistakes. Especially during the 2022-2023 season, when the team played well under former coach Julian Nagelsmann, Tuchel took over and made a series of mistakes that led to the team’s exit in the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League (UCL).
Kim Min-jae, on the other hand, is a player Tuchel views positively. According to sources, Tuchel has had his eye on Kim since the 2021-2022 season, when he was with Fenerbahçe in Turkey. At the time, Tuchel was coaching Chelsea.
Tuchel has his own unique perspective on squad composition and is very stubborn. Tuchel took over at the last minute last season and has been backed by the club this summer and has been very influential in the transfer market. The Bavarians will be eager to make a move for him.
Bayern Munich head coach Thomas Tuchel. Getty Images Korea
At the club level, it’s been a while since they’ve had their eyes on Kim Min-jae. Bayern sent scouts to Fenerbahçe’s hometown of Istanbul. Firmin Schwegler, the club’s chief scout at the time, personally visited the player. Schwegler was a midfielder who played alongside Kim during his playing days at Hoffenheim and was coached by the same coach, Julian Nagelsmann. He worked as a scout for Bayern before being promoted to chief scout after Nagelsmann’s arrival, a role he held for two seasons. He is now sporting director at Hoffenheim, but Bayern still have a scouting report on Kim Min-jae.
If the two multi-defensive players leave, as well as Upamecano, Kim will become a regular starter alongside Diricht. If Upamecano stays, there’s still a chance he could be pushed aside if Tuchel doesn’t trust him and prefers Kim.
There are plenty of reasons for Kim to favor Bayern. The club is more likely to win trophies than Manchester United and Newcastle United, is one of the most prestigious clubs in the history of soccer, and has direct flights. South Korean national team players have a strong preference for cities with direct flights to cut down on travel time when they are called up to the national team. Munich is one of the cities that can be reached directly from Incheon International Airport.
However, even if all the pieces are in place for Bayern to make a move for Kim Min-jae, it doesn’t mean that the transfer is finalized immediately. Kim entered the Nonsan Training Center on July 15 and will undergo three weeks of basic military training until July 5. It’s not until July that Kim’s buyout clause is triggered and the transfer market opens in earnest. Over the next three weeks, there will be competition from Bayern, Manchester United, Newcastle United, and others for the player’s signature, as well as the possibility that more teams will try to sign him, so there’s no urgency on Kim’s part.