Manchester United could do with more depth at the heart of their defence, given they will be expected to compete on four fronts next season.
Matthijs de Ligt is not expected back before autumn, while Lisandro Martinez will get his first minutes against AC Milan on Saturday following his World Cup exertions.
The Argentine suffered an injury in the World Cup final, and Michael Carrick will likely take it slow with the injury-prone former Ajax ace.
Add Harry Maguire’s ageing legs into the mix, and that leaves only Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven to shoulder all the burden.
Why it makes sense for United to add a centre-back
It makes sense for INEOS to try and add one more experienced head, with journalist Christian Falk revealing that Min-jae Kim is on United’s radar.
The South Korean has fallen out of favour since Vincent Kompany took charge. There were reports that £26 million could be enough to land the 29-year-old.
However, the former Napoli ace is keen to fight for his place and feels he has the ability to win back his first-team spot, something Bayern appreciate.
With Kompany eyeing Champions League glory, defensive depth will be key, and Min-jae Kim staying would only make the Bavarians stronger.
Min-jae Kim is a long-term target
“There is some truth to reports around Manchester United’s interest in Min-jae Kim. As I’ve mentioned with Bayern Insider previously, the South Korean international is on the list at United. They’re always looking at his situation at Bayern Munich.
“Min-jae Kim is very clear at the moment that he wants to stay at Bayern and he’s fine with his current role at the club. He’s not in the starting XI at the moment, but he has a chance to get there if he’s playing well and if injuries strike. So, Kim wants to see if he can push back into the team.
“This is a very good situation for Bayern Munich, as they’re fully aware they can’t rely on just two senior centre-backs for an entire season. Having a player like Kim available is critical if they want to go far in all competitions – especially in the Champions League.”
Under INEOS, United were always unlikely to spend big on a 29-year-old, and an approach before the window closes can be safely ruled out.
The People’s Person Reliability Assessment
Overall credibility: 5/10Why?
United are unlikely to sign a centre-back in this window, especially one who will turn 30 this year.
The report reads like the player’s agent trying to send a message instead of any concrete development
TPP View We believe it is a case of Min-jae Kim wanting to impress Bayern Munich rather than any concrete transfer development.
