Liverpool may have been handed a huge advantage in the race for Napoli defender Kim Min-jae, as a lack of Champions League football will make him cheaper for them than his other suitors.
That’s according to journalist Luca Cerchione, who has revealed to Football News 24 that the defender’s release clause varies this summer depending on whether sides are in the Champions League.
Kim has been one of the stars of the show for Napoli this season, arriving as a replacement for Kalidou Koulibaly and comfortably filling the hole he left behind when he joined Chelsea.
His performances have not gone unnoticed and all of the big sides in Europe are believed to be keeping an eye on him.
Liverpool are one of those who have been linked with a move as they plan a major rebuild under Jurgen Klopp in the summer.
They, like the rest of Kim’s suitors, know that he has a release clause in his current contract which is set to activate once the season comes to an end.
According to Cerchione, though, Liverpool may have been handed an advantage on that front, but only if they fail to qualify for the Champions League next year.
“In any case, Napoli’s idea is to offer him an extension at the end of the season to take his contract to five years, therefore expiring in June 2028, with a salary of €2.5 million net per season, plus half a million in bonuses,” he said.
“Even this figure seems to be a tad low for a defender of his calibre, but Napoli are not going any further out of respect for their salary cap.
“If a solution cannot be found, he could be playing elsewhere already next season: Liverpool and Manchester United are on him, with Paris Saint-Germain that could give him a thought.
“An entangled situation: certainly until the end of the season there will be no talk of his future, although the club has already informed the boy’s entourage.
“To be more precise, the termination clause varies from 40 million in favour of clubs that do not play the Champions League.
“n the event that Napoli itself does not qualify for the next edition of the Cup with the big ears, to 70 million for clubs committed to the most important European competition for clubs and turnovers that exceed a certain threshold.”
