Napoli will struggle to keep defender Kim min-Jae should the likes of Manchester United activate his release clause in future.
That’s according to journalist Umberto Chiarello, who confirms that the player has a €50m clause in his current contract.
Kim has been one of the stars of the show for Napoli this season, impressing since a summer arrival from Fenerbahce.
His performances have reportedly not gone unnoticed, with Manchester United said to be keen on him and already thinking about paying his release clause.
That was believed to be around €40m but reports in Italy have made it clear that it is higher, around the €50m mark.
That’s confirmed by Gazzetta dello Sport today, who say the defender has ended up ‘in the sights’ of scouts from the major European clubs.
They already knew of him when he was playing in China but his performances since moving to Italy have confirmed his talent and his €50m is now seen as a ‘risk’ for Napoli but an ‘opportunity’ for others.
That clause is not valid in Italy and only activates next summer, so there is no chance of a move in the January transfer window, but Napoli are hoping their excellent relations with the players agents and the player’s desire to impress can help them keep him for longer.
That’s going to be a difficult task if the big boys come calling, though, with Chiarello making that point today.
“There has been talk of Manchester United for the Korean, but we can say that in January he is armoured,” Napoli today report him saying.
“But the €50m clause in Kim’s contract really exists and can be exercised in July.
“We are worried because if that money arrives it will be difficult to keep the defender, but Napoli had to insert that clause, it was the way to manage to get the player and bring him to Serie A.”
