Erik ten Hag is reportedly now very serious about bringing £44 million World Cup star Kim Min-jae to Manchester United.
That’s according to a report from TuttoMercatoWeb who claim that United are ‘ready to strike’ for the 26-year-old South Korea centre-back.
Central defence is clearly an area at Old Trafford where Ten Hag needs to strengthen either in the January transfer window or next summer.
Harry Maguire’s future at Man United is uncertain while Raphael Varane continues to struggle with injury problems.
And it seems as though the Dutchman has someone specific in mind to come in and do a job.
Manchester United serious about signing Kim Min-jae
The Red Devils are ready to mount an assault on Napoli for the central defender. The South Korean only joined the Serie A side from Fenerbahce last summer. But he is already drawing admiring glances from some of Europe’s biggest clubs.
Min-jae would be a very solid addition for United. He is a strong and aerially commanding centre-half. During an interview with the Guardian, the defender labelled himself as a monster and suggested that the word sums up his playing style perfectly.
He has scored two goals in 14 games for Napoli this season and has averaged 1.6 tackles, 1.1 interceptions, 3.9 clearances and 3.1 successful aerial duels per match.
The Napoli ace has averaged 73.7 passes per game on average and has recorded a completion rate of 89.6%.
TuttoMercatoWeb reckon that he could be available for around €50m (£44m). That would represent good value for the Red Devils, and he would certainly provide strong competition for the likes of Varane and Lisandro Martinez.
And if United sign Min-jae, Ten Hag will have seriously strong central defensive options at his disposal at Old Trafford.
Stats via WhoScored.
Erik ten Hag delighted with Luke Shaw after shining at centre-back for Manchester United
Luke Shaw filled in at centre-back for Manchester United on Tuesday night (Picture: Getty Images)
Erik ten Hag was thoroughly impressed with makeshift centre-back Luke Shaw on Tuesday night, believing that the England international looked like he had played there for years.
With illness, injury and unavailability ravaging Ten Hag’s defensive options, he was forced to play a back four of Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Raphael Varane, Shaw and Tyrell Malacia against Nottingham Forest.
The unusual defence held firm and the Red Devils left Old Trafford with a 3-0 win, as Shaw did well away from his usual left-back position.
While he is unlikely to stay there when Lisandro Martinez returns from World Cup celebrations and Harry Maguire is fully fit, Ten Hag was very impressed and is pleased to know that he can call on Shaw if needs be in the future.
‘He was really composed, really decisive there and determined to play that position. It was a really good performance,’ Ten Hag said.
‘Already last week he offered himself for me. He came in and said “look I can play centre-half against Burnley”.
Erik ten Hag is delighted to have an unexpected extra option at centre-back (Picture: Getty Images)
‘We made the choice to have Casemiro in that job but you see him [Luke] playing a magnificent game [against Forest] and doing really well and it looks like he was playing as a centre-back for many, many years.
‘It is good to know that we have options there, and that is also what you need for the whole squad – have players who can play in more positions.’
United have enjoyed the perfect return to action after the World Cup so far, beating Burnley 2-0 in the Carabao Cup and then Forest 3-0 in the Premier League.
They go to Wolves on New Year’s Eve when they should have Martinez back and both Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof and Diogo Dalot could be available again.
Source: manutdnews.com; metro.co.uk
