🔴 Manchester United Renew Pursuit of Bayern Munich Defender Kim Min-jae
Manchester United have revived their interest in Bayern Munich’s South Korean center-back Kim Min-jae after missing out on signing him in 2023.
The Red Devils were previously close to securing his signature following his standout performances for Napoli, but Bayern Munich swooped in at the last minute, activating his £43 million release clause and signing him ahead of United.
Now, according to BILD journalist Christian Falk, United are once again monitoring Kim’s situation.
Liverpool are also reportedly keeping an eye on developments, as both Premier League clubs assess defensive reinforcements for the summer transfer window.
Although Kim still has three years remaining on his Bayern contract, recent circumstances have opened the door for a potential transfer away from the Bundesliga champions.
Kim’s debut season in Germany had its ups and downs. After a rocky start adapting to life at Bayern, he eventually found his rhythm and played a key role in helping Vincent Kompany’s side reclaim the Bundesliga title. Unfortunately, his campaign was interrupted towards the end when he suffered an Achilles injury, raising concerns over his long-term fitness and casting some uncertainty over his future with the German giants.
The recent arrival of Jonathan Tah, along with Bayern’s reported interest in signing another center-back, has further fueled speculation that Kim might no longer be part of the club’s first-choice defensive plans.
Manchester United, who are in the midst of rebuilding their backline under new manager Rúben Amorim, see Kim as a potential solution.
The departures of experienced defenders such as Jonny Evans and Raphael Varane, combined with ongoing uncertainty surrounding Victor Lindelöf, have left United thin at center-back.
Amorim reportedly favors defenders who are comfortable in possession and capable of playing out from the back, a style that aligns with Kim’s strengths.
Christian Falk’s report also mentions growing interest from Saudi Arabian clubs, who are monitoring Kim’s situation closely.
While Bayern have not received any formal offers at this stage, they are believed to be open to selling the 28-year-old, potentially seeking to recoup some of their initial investment as they reshape their squad under Kompany.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano had previously confirmed that Kim was one of United’s main targets during the 2023 summer transfer window.
Reports at the time indicated that personal terms between the player and United had even been agreed before Bayern stepped in and finalized the deal.
While United are actively tracking Kim, they are not the only major English club considering him.
Liverpool have also shown interest, though they are reportedly prioritizing younger center-back options such as Gonçalo Inácio or Leny Yoro as part of their longer-term recruitment strategy.
For United, if their pursuits of Matthijs de Ligt or Yoro fail to materialize, Kim Min-jae could quickly emerge as their primary fallback option.
In summary, Kim offers Manchester United a proven defender with top-level experience, strong defensive capabilities, and familiarity with European competition.
However, his recent injury and Bayern’s apparent willingness to move him on raise questions about his fitness and future prospects.
United will carefully weigh these factors as they continue evaluating options to strengthen their defense for the upcoming season.
