Man Utd stunned as Newcastle prepare hijack of Ten Hag’s ‘main’ transfer target
Eddie Howe has been in charge of Newcastle since November 2021
Man Utd have earmarked a dominant Napoli star as their “main” transfer target, though a fresh update claims Newcastle are a genuine threat to hijack the deal.
The Red Devils are on the hunt for reinforcements in multiple positions this summer. With Dean Henderson’s move to Nottingham Forest ‘advanced’, a new goalkeeper who may actually displace David de Gea as the starter is wanted.
Elsewhere, additions are being sought at centre-half, central midfield and up front. Fabrizio Romano recently reported Man Utd are poised to lodge an official bid for Chelsea’s Mason Mount, while the striker search remains ongoing.
However, today’s update concerns centre-back and specifically Kim Min-jae of Napoli. Indeed, Romano recently declared Kim, 26, to be Man Utd’s “main” and “top” defensive target this summer in his piece for the Guardian.
The dominant South Korean holds a release clause in his contract that is active for a two-week period beginning on July 1.
The clause is understood to be set at a touch under €50m (approx. £42m), despite dubious reports in Italy claiming it’s €60m.
Man Utd have their eye on Kim as their would-be upgrade on Harry Maguire. The 30-year-old – who is still club captain at Old Trafford – will be allowed to leave this summer. Tottenham and Aston Villa are in the mix, per the Telegraph and Football Insider respectively.
However, according to a fresh update from talkSPORT, Newcastle are a genuine threat to torpedo Man Utd’s move.
Their headline reads: ‘Newcastle consider hijacking Manchester United move for £42m Napoli star Kim Min-jae’.
Newcastle v Man Utd for Kim who’s spoken out on fake news
The Magpies will grace the Champions League for the first time since 2003 next season and as such, manager Eddie Howe wants high calibre upgrades who’ll improve his starting eleven.
Kim is seemingly the player he’s settled on at centre-half and talkSPORT add he’s being ‘tracked’ by Newcastle.
That tallies with recent reports out of Spain where it’s persistently been stated Newcastle are Man Utd’s biggest threat to a Kim deal.
Certain sections of the Italian press would have you believe Kim moving to Old Trafford is already agreed.
However, the player himself recently took to social media to pour cold water on such claims.
Taking to Instagram, Kim revealed someone not connected to the player has been posing as his agent and discussing potential moves and agreements they have no authority to make.
“There is someone who is posing as my agent,” said Kim. “[They are] meeting clubs and young players in disguise. This is not my agent. Be careful and find out about my agent.”
Get Italian Football News suggested the stories linking Kim to Man Utd and specifically those claiming a deal is close may in fact ‘be the work of intermediaries who might not be Kim’s actual agents’.
But while an agreement with Man Utd may be fake news, what is clear is the Red Devils do hold concrete interest in the player.
However, so too do Newcastle who also have UCL football on offer and can now match Man Utd financially in the market.
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