It seems that Harry Maguire‘s tenure at Manchester United is drawing to a close. The player has no future under Ten Hag’s management and their separation this summer seems inevitable. Under Erik Ten Hag’s stewardship, Manchester United is rapidly advancing. Maguire has made a meager contribution to this resurgence, having played only 7 games in the Premier League this season.
🚨”Harry Maguire is reportedly considering leaving Manchester United this summer due to a lack of playing time, as he eyes a Euro 2024 spot with England.”[@Ekremkonur]#MUFC 🔴 pic.twitter.com/JE419lfWho
— RealRedsTalk (RRT) (@RealRedsTalk1) April 29, 2023
It appears that Erik ten Hag has given his blessing for Maguire’s exit, as the center-back does not align with his long-term strategy at Old Trafford. Manchester United has been linked with an array of defenders, yet the leading candidate to join the Red Devils appears to be Napoli’s Kim Min-Jae. The South Korean has been outstanding in his debut season in Serie A, propelling his team to the Scudetto after a 33-year hiatus.
Manchester United would be ready to make a €60 million offer for Kim Min Jae whose contract contains a release clause. Napoli is examining the European market to look for a potential replacement for the Korean. [CdS] #Napoli #ManUtd pic.twitter.com/ZvyhRlFcv2
— Italian Football News 🇮🇹 (@footitalia1) May 6, 2023
The Manchester United hierarchy is actively pursuing the acquisition of South Korean defender Kim Min-Jae. The Red Devils have initiated talks with the player’s representatives in recent weeks and have identified a clause in his contract that could aid his transfer to Old Trafford. Furthermore, United has made a considerable financial offer to Kim, emphasizing the club’s commitment to signing the player.
How will Kim Min-Jae fit at Manchester United?
Despite enjoying his time with Napoli, reports suggest that Kim yearns to test his mettle in the Premier League, considered the world’s most competitive football league. Kim’s potential move to Man Utd offers him ample game time due to injuries of other center-backs.
According to whoscored.com, Kim Min-Jae’s average match ratings across various competitions are pretty impressive. He rates 7.20 from 9 matches in the Champions League, 7.10 from 33 matches in Serie A, and 6.40 in the FIFA World Cup, which adds up to a total average of 7.08 from 46 games.
With just 23 goals conceded in 34 games, Napoli has the league’s most impenetrable defense thanks to the South Korean international. His contribution includes an impressive tally of 21 clean sheets in 43 appearances across all competitions. He has also scored two goals and provided two assists. United is eager to clinch the signing as soon as his release clause becomes active by the middle of June.
Owing to his tumultuous campaign, it is noteworthy that Maguire’s future at Old Trafford is presently uncertain. To maintain his spot in the England national team, Maguire might leave Manchester United to prioritize regular playing time. In this regard, Min-Jae appears to be the ideal replacement as he is adept at playing at both left center-back and right center-back positions, and akin to Maguire, he possesses excellent ball-playing skills.