Napoli, the Italian Serie A club, seems to have found a potential replacement for their coveted defender Kim Min-jae, who has been a target for Manchester United.
Their sights are now set on David Hancko, a talented center-back from Slovakia currently playing for Feyenoord.
Man United closing in on Kim Min-jae
With Manchester United reportedly closing in on securing Kim Min-jae’s services by activating his release clause of €50 million, Napoli is preparing for the inevitable departure of their South Korean star.
Kim Min-jae arrived in Italy just last season, joining Napoli from Fenerbahce for a fee of €18 million.
Italian publication Il Mattino via the Sun reveals that a deal with Manchester United has been accepted and is expected to be finalized on July 1st.
In fact, they consider Kim Min-jae a “former player already,” emphasizing the advanced stage of negotiations. Adding fuel to the speculation surrounding his departure, moving trucks have been spotted at Kim Min-jae’s residence in Naples, indicating an imminent relocation.
Reports suggest that personal terms between Kim Min-jae and Manchester United have already been agreed upon, with the player set to earn a substantial salary of £9 million per season, amounting to £175,000 per week.
Such figures illustrate the magnitude of the deal and the club’s determination to secure the highly sought-after defender.
Napoli finds replacement for Kim Min-jae
Napoli Magazine reports that Feyenoord is likely to demand a fee of €23 million for David Hancko, who has been identified as Napoli’s potential replacement. However, it is expected that Napoli’s initial offer will be closer to €18 million.
Hancko, a 25-year-old Slovakian international, boasts previous experience in Serie A, having made five appearances for Fiorentina between 2018 and 2021.
Before joining Fiorentina, Hancko had a loan spell at Sparta Prague before eventually making a permanent move to the Czech side.
Napoli’s pursuit of Hancko could finally bring an end to Manchester United’s protracted pursuit of Kim Min-jae, which has spanned several months.
The Italian club’s proactive approach in securing a replacement indicates their determination to maintain a strong defensive line despite losing a key player.
