Manchester United could soon be handed a double blow in their pursuit of Napoli centre-back Kim Min-jae, according to a report.
The 26-year-old has earned admirers from the Premier League amid a sensational campaign for Luciano Spalletti's men, who hold a 19-point lead at the top of the Serie A table.
Kim's stock has risen considerably since leaving Fenerbahce in the summer, and he also helped South Korea reach the knockout stages of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Man United and Tottenham Hotspur are believed to be keeping a close eye on Kim, who recently blasted talk of an imminent Premier League move as "nonsense".
"As you know, those rumours are not true at all. I want to focus on my team. I have many tournaments to play," the Daily Mail quotes the defender as saying.
© Reuters
"It's been four or years I have had these rumours. It's uncomfortable. I wish you don't spread those stories. I cannot be bothered by transfer rumours because they aren't true.
"Now I'm focusing on the team, rather than that kind of nonsense. There are so many important matches to go and right now I only want to focus on Napoli."
While Kim has re-affirmed his commitment to Napoli, the defender's contractual situation means that he may not have much of a say in transfer matters as things stand.
Kim is tied to Napoli until 2025, but his contract apparently contains a release clause of £44m, which will become active for two weeks in the summer.
However, Calciomercato claims that Napoli chiefs have now scheduled a meeting with the centre-back's entourage to discuss modifying or removing the release clause from the terms.
© Reuters
The report adds that Napoli will not actually be renewing Kim's contract beyond 2025, but the South Korea international should be in line for a pay hike given his consistent performances.
Kim is said to earn €2.5m (£2.2m) per year at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, but Napoli are ready to bump his salary up to €3.5m (£3.1m) per season.
The defender has two goals and one assist under his belt from 35 games in a Napoli shirt so far this term, as the Partenopei also prepare to tackle AC Milan in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
Man United have settled on a first-choice centre-back pairing of Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez this season, leaving the futures of Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof, Phil Jones and Axel Tuanzebe up in the air.
Jones and Tuanzebe are set to depart at the end of the season, and the Red Devils are also rumoured to be willing to sell both of Maguire and Lindelof.
Ben Knapton
