Manchester City ready to rival United in pursuit of 26 y/o Napoli star

Manchester United will reportedly face competition from rivals Manchester City in pursuit of Napoli’s Kim Min-jae.

That’s according to Italian outlet Calcio Mercato, which confirms both Manchester clubs are in the race for the South Korean’s signature this summer, with the Reds seemingly holding the upper hand.

Erik ten Hag has reportedly had assurances that Min-jae is keen on moving to Old Trafford and so is preparing to trigger his release clause, which is believed to be in the region of £42 million and active from July.

Napoli unwilling to oversee Min-jae exit

Napoli will continue to offer Min-jae lucrative proposals to keep their stalwart centre-back at the club, yet they have all but admitted defeat given the money that the English teams can offer.

The 26-year-old played a pivotal role in ending the side’s 33-year wait to be crowned Serie A champions and lifted the Scudetto within his first season in Naples.

He would bolster Ten Hag’s defensive options and be utilised with either Raphael Varane or Lisandro Martinez, which would make United’s backline, on paper, one of the strongest in Europe.

Mercato’s report does add that securing Champions League qualification may be needed for the Reds if they want to secure a deal, so sealing a top-four finish in their final fixtures is crucial.