Celtic Could Land Their Own £47.2m Talent In 6ft 2 "Hero"

With the new Scottish Premiership season now on the horizon, reigning champions Celtic have begun to step up their transfer dealings, with returning boss Brendan Rodgers having now brought in five new faces to Parkhead so far this summer.

That may not be the end of the Old Firm side's summer spending, however, with recent reports indicating that the Hoops are still interested in a move for Croatian goalkeeper, Dominik Livakovic, despite the 28-year-old having looked set to join Turkish giants, Fenerbahce.

As per journalist Ahmet Konanc, the Super Lig are said to also be in contact with Paris Saint-Germain veteran Keylor Navas, ensuring that the door could still be ajar for the Glasgow giants to poach Livakovic from Dinamo Zagreb.

Sky Sports reporter Anthony Joseph had revealed earlier this month that the Bhoys were "monitoring" the 45-cap international, with the 6 foot 2 titan having just a year left to run on his existing deal in Zagreb.

Who is Dominik Livakovic?

The experienced stopper – who has spent the last eight years with his current club – only recently caught the attention following his fine displays for his country at the World Cup in Qatar, having been part of the Croatia side that reached the semi-final stage.

Lauded as a "hero" by journalist Sacha Pisani, the Zadar native notably made 11 saves as part of a fine individual performance in the quarter-final triumph over Brazil, including making a crucial save to deny Rodrygo's spot-kick in the penalty shootout.

Such form has unsurprisingly captured the interest of clubs across Europe, with those at Celtic Park seemingly eyeing a potential replacement for the ageing Joe Hart, as pundit Frank McAvennie suggested that the club "have got to bring in someone else" to either rival or usurp the 36-year-old from his usual starting berth.

Inter goalkeeper Andre Onana.

The signing of Livakovic therefore – who had reportedly struck a €9m (£7.7m) deal with Fenerbahce – could prove to be a dream scenario, particularly due to his apparent likeness to Manchester United's recent £47.2m addition, Andre Onana, according to Football Transfers.

Should Celtic sign Livakovic?

Having allowed long-serving stopper David De Gea to depart following the expiry of his contract, the Red Devils turned to Onana to help transform their goalkeeping ranks, with the Cameroonian ace seemingly the archetypal modern-day 'keeper due to his quality on the ball.

As Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola stated ahead of last month's Champions League final, the 27-year-old is simply "exceptional in the build-up", proving himself as arguably "one of the best in the world right now".

For Rodgers to then potentially find his answer to the former Inter Milan man with the signing of Livakovic would seemingly be a dream scenario, with the Croatian colossus also particularly adept at playing out from the back as he ranks in the top 5% among his European peers for touches made – as a sign of his willingness to receive the ball at his feet – with Onana ranking in the top 11% in that regard, albeit while having featured more frequently.

Just as important is a goalkeeper's ability to keep the ball out of the net, however, although the pair are also alike in that regard, with the Zagreb star – who featured in the Champions League for his current side last season – ranking in the top 11% with regard to his save percentage, while Onana ranks in the top 12% for that same metric.

While in Europe last season Onana was able to keep eight clean sheets in 13 outings en route to the final, Livakovic actually made more saves per game from his six appearances than his goalkeeping counterpart (4.2 v 3.6), proving just what an effective presence he is in the sticks.

With Celtic unable to splash the cash quite so freely as those at Old Trafford, Rodgers could potentially find an Onana-esque talent for a fraction of the cost this summer.

Chelsea: Pochettino making move "towards" striker "machine"

Chelsea have already had 'first contacts' with Juventus as they try to strike a deal for striker Dusan Vlahovic and both parties will hold a meeting this week to discuss matters further, according to journalist Rudy Galetti.

Is Dusan Vlahovic coming to Chelsea?

According to The Daily Mail, Chelsea have explored the merits of signing Vlahovic this summer as they target a new striker; however, his wage packet is said to be too prohibitive amid their aim to restructure 'wage tiers' at Stamford Bridge.

The Serbia international is reportedly available for around £77 million and has also been sought after by Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain in the off-season.

Journalist Alfredo Pedulla has claimed that Vlahovic would prefer to join Paris Saint-Germain as opposed to swapping Juventus for Chelsea following 'dialogue' between both parties.

Chelsea are looking to offload forgotten man Romelu Lukaku and Juventus have emerged as leading contenders to sign the Belgium international after talks with his former club Inter Milan collapsed, as per Telegraph Sport.

Lukaku has returned to training at the Blues' Cobham base but will not partake in their pre-season tour out in the United States, though Juventus will only look to strike a deal if they have to sell Vlahovic.

Inter Milan have shifted their focus from Lukaku towards Arsenal frontman Folarin Balogun, who has also been linked with Chelsea in the last few weeks, as per FootballTransfers.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Galetti has revealed that talks between Vlahovic and his representatives over a move to Chelsea will take place soon.

Galetti stated: “Vlahovic could leave Juventus this summer after only one year and a half.

"We already revealed his possible move weeks ago and now that the transfer market session is getting to the heart, this option appears to be increasingly concrete with Chelsea the ones that are moving towards the Serbian player.

"The first contacts between the Blues and Juventus have already taken place in recent days: Bianconeri have confirmed that the price tag of Dusan is set at around €80 million.

"Probably too high at the moment, even if a new meeting is scheduled for Vlahovic during the week.”

Would Dusan Vlahovic be a good fit for Chelsea?

Vlahovic, who has been hailed as a "machine", is certainly a handful to contend with and would become a big asset at Chelsea if he was to move to Stamford Bridge this window.

Last term, the 23-year-old racked up decent numbers for Juventus across all competitions, registering 14 goals and four assists in 42 appearances, as per Transfermarkt.

dusan-vlahovic-juventus-transfer-gossip-tottenham-hotspur-postecoglou-erling-haaland

Leading the line efficiently, Vlahovic was also able to bring others into play over the course of last term and successfully pulled off 63 shot-creating actions, according to FBRef.

As per WhoScored, the Serbia international carried a strong goal threat throughout the campaign and took on 2.5 shots per match in Serie A for his current employers.

Chelsea have already bolstered their forward line with the additions of Nicolas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku. Nevertheless, getting another striker through the door will be necessary for Mauricio Pochettino to achieve his aims in 2023/24.

Harry Kane: Fabrizio Romano shares "crucial" Tottenham news

Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Posteocoglou and star striker Harry Kane are set for "crucial" sit-down talks as reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano shares an "important update".

Will Harry Kane leave Spurs?

The 29-year-old, once again, is at the centre of a transfer saga – two years after treble-winning Man City attempted to prise him away from Spurs in 2021.

Pep Guardiola's side lodged bids over £100 million for Kane that summer but chairman Daniel Levy was in a strong position to refute any advances for Tottenham's star player.

Fast forward to now, and the situation is far more precarious, as the England striker's current deal is due to expire in the next 12 months. Interested sides could sign Kane on a Bosman deal next summer if he doesn't pen fresh terms, motivating the Lilywhites to make him a mammoth new contract offer recently.

Kane, however, apparently won't sign it this transfer window and his future remains up in the air – with German giants Bayern Munich chasing the forward.

According to Romano, who spoke to CaughtOffside recently, Kane is set for "crucial" sit-down talks with Postecoglou after Bayern's latest approach to sign him.

Harry Kane

While Tottenham remain firm in their desire not to sell him, Bayern have no intention of quitting, as Spurs have still received no update from Kane over his future intentions.

"An important update from Tottenham," said Romano.

"They’ve been approached again by Bayern Munich for Harry Kane. Some sources say it was a verbal bid, some say it was an official bid, so it’s difficult to clarify the situation precisely, especially when Tottenham’s stance is clear, that they don’t want to sell the player.

"They submitted a new bid of €80m plus add-ons. The message from Tottenham remains very clear – it is very unlikely that they will accept this, that is the feeling of those close to the board and to Daniel Levy.

“As things stand, there’s no indication about an asking price or valuation from Spurs, it’s very clear that Levy still hopes to keep Kane but all sources believe €80m won’t be enough to sign the England striker. Bayern have to do better than this to make it happen.

“From Bayern’s end, they remain convinced that Kane is prepared to make this move, but again it really depends on Daniel Levy and at the moment there is no green light. Kane will also speak to new manager Ange Postecoglou in the next days. Tottenham have received no communication yet from Kane over his future or his plans, so these talks will be crucial.”

How good is Harry Kane?

Scoring 30 league goals in 38 games last season, Kane also stood out as Tottenham's best-performing player by average match rating, with there being no queastion he is their most crucial asset.

If Postecoglou were to lose him, either this summer or next, it would come as an almighty blow to Spurs – regardless of whether they do in fact recieve a fee for him.

There are few alternative strikers in world football who can replicate Kane's quality, and certainly not for an achievable price, as reports suggest the likes of Victor Osimhen could cost an eye-watering fee.

Chelsea To Launch Bid For 23-Year-Old Star Once Lukaku Is Gone

Chelsea have been handed a boost in their pursuit of Dusan Vlahovic, with Il Messagero reporting that the striker is keen on a move to Stamford Bridge should a deal materialise between the clubs.

How many goals has Dusan Vlahovic scored for Juventus?

The 23-year-old has only been with Juventus for two seasons, but has already bagged plenty for the Serie A side. In 2022/23, the striker managed a total of ten goals and two assists in just 22 league starts for the Italian outfit, which was impressive considering the Turin side could manage only a seventh placed finish during a campaign filled with turmoil on the pitch and off it. Prior to that, he had seven in 12 during his first campaign with the club.

The Serbian then has not slowed down since his switch from Fiorentina. Bursting onto the scene with La Viola as an 18-year-old, he managed a haul of 27 goals before turning 20. He ended up leaving the side with a final total of 44 goals in 69 league starts over four seasons with his old club – a record that prompted Serie A title challengers Juventus to stump up the cash to bring him in.

He's continued to hit the back of the net on a regular basis despite the change in scenery, but he could be off this summer it seems, with the Old Lady in FFP hell.

Man United have already held talks with the player's agent over a potential transfer to the Premier League and Chelsea have also held an interest in a deal, with the Blues adding him to their transfer wanted list. Now, it appears that the London outfit have the upper hand in their pursuit of the striker – but no offer is on the table yet.

dusan-vlahovic-juventus-man-united-transfers

Are Chelsea signing Dusan Vlahovic?

According to a report from Il Messagero, Vlahovic is personally tempted to move to Stamford Bridge should a deal be agreed.

It appears he is not averse to leaving Juve and heading to England this summer, but it adds that a potential transfer may only happen based on other events at Chelsea. That's because the Blues still have Romelu Lukaku on their books, meaning there isn't a whole lot of room in their strikeforce right now. Should the Premier League outfit be able to offload the Belgian, who cost them £97.5m, then they will formalise their interest and "attack" a deal for the 6 foot 3 Serbian.

It's unclear how much the striker may cost the English outfit should they launch a bid, but Transfermarkt suggest his value is around the 70 million Euros (or £60m) mark. However, that would be nearly £10m less than what the Turin side originally paid for him (81.6 million Euros/£69.9m) so they would likely want more than that amount as part of any potential deal as they look to balance their books.

Vlahovic is viewed as a very solid option up front, with football journalist Josh Bunting calling him "clinical" and "aggressive". He even added that he is a "consistent goalscorer" and is a "killer in the box". These are all big compliments for the attacker, and it shows how excellent he has been in front of goal to draw such praise.

Man United considering move for Zion Suzuki

Manchester United are considering signing Japanese goalkeeper Zion Suzuki, who shares a similar profile to that of current club target Andre Onana, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Who is Zion Suzuki?

Suzuki is a 20-year-old shot-stopper who currently plays for Japanese side Urawa Red Diamonds in the J-League.

The United States-born player has been with the club for the duration of his senior career to date and has made 28 appearances for the first-team squad since his debut in March 2021. However, he has struggled for game time in the current term compared to previous seasons, managing just five appearances in the J-League Cup and zero appearances in the league so far this campaign.

When Suzuki broke into the first team, he had a bright start between the sticks, keeping three clean sheets in his first three league games for the club.

The keeper is also a capped international for Japan, making his national team bow in a 6-0 win against Hong Kong in 2022.

Japan goalkeeper Zion Suzuki.

Despite not making as many appearances this season compared to the previous one, Suzuki is thought of very highly at his current club, with current coach Maciej Skorza telling reporters: "The Reds have four very interesting goalkeepers. Among them, Shusaku [Nishikawa] and Zion [Suzuki] are of a very high level, I think Zion is taller than Shusaku, and I think he’s a young player with a lot of future potential."

Reports state that he first caught the Red Devils' eye during the U17 World Cup back in 2017, with the club now prepared to make an offer to bring in the Japanese shot-stopper after "witnessing his growth against the Dutch national team" where he had a strong performance.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano revealed that United do have an interest in bringing the 20-year-old to Old Trafford this summer, with him having a profile that the club desire.

“They are also considering Suzuki. This goalkeeper, who plays for Urawa Red Diamonds in Japan, born in 2002, a Japanese goalkeeper. Suzuki is a concrete possibility for Manchester United. They have him on the radar; he could become the new second [choice] goalkeeper. He has a really similar profile to Andre Onana, this kind of goalkeeper, and this is why Suzuki is a possibility.”

Why are Manchester United interested in Zion Suzuki?

The Red Devils are set to undergo their biggest overhaul in the goalkeeping department since the days of Sir Alex Ferguson this summer.

David de Gea recently announced that his 12-year stay at the club is over following a breakdown in contract talks, whilst youth product Dean Henderson is also rumoured to depart this summer, with a return to Nottingham Forest – where he spent last season on loan – the most likely outcome at this point.

In response, United are closing in on an agreement with Inter for the transfer of Cameroonian Onana. The 27-year-old previously worked with current Red Devils boss Erik ten Hag at Ajax and had a stellar season last year as Inter won two trophies and made the Champions League final for the first time in over a decade.

Andre-Onana-Inter-Milan

The club would need an able backup for the former Ajax man, with the current option being Tom Heaton, and that's where Suzuki steps in. The Japanese player has drawn comparisons to Onana due to their similar playstyles and how both of them are incredibly comfortable playing out with their feet.

Bringing in Suzuki could be a fantastic call by the club and would set the precedent for what attributes are required by a United shot-stopper for years to come. It would also be beneficial for the players in the squad as they would not have to change how they play if Suzuki had to step in for a couple of games, allowing Ten Hag's side to take the next step forward in their evolution.

Palace Could Solve Olise Injury Blow By Signing £25m ‘Nightmare’

Arnaut Danjuma is hoping for a move back to the Premier League this summer, with Crystal Palace among his potential suitors, according to Jack Rosser of The Sun.

The London club will need to find a way to replace the impact of Michael Olise after the winger suffered an injury blow that will see him miss the start of the Premier League season.

Crystal Palace transfer news – will they sign Arnaut Danjuma?

With Danjuma keen on a move back to the Premier League, a move to Crystal Palace could be on the cards this summer.

The Villarreal winger spent the second half of last season on loan at Tottenham Hotspur, but struggled to ever really gain an influential role in a struggling side, playing just 162 minutes in the league – the equivalent of just under two games.

As per Rosser, Villarreal want £25m for Danjuma this summer, but are open to another loan move in which could be positive news for Palace.

Would Arnaut Danjuma replicate Olise's quality?

Without Olise, Palace are undoubtedly a worse side. Last season, the Frenchman was involved in 13 goals for the London side, with 11 assists to his name.

Replacing that quality will be no easy task at the start of the season, but Palace will be left with no choice after his recent injury. And that's where Danjuma could come in.

Although he struggled to make the desired impact at Spurs, the 26-year-old has previously shone in England for Bournemouth, where he scored 15 times in the Championship, earning a move to Villarreal.

arnaut-danjuma-premier-league-everton-transfers

It was his debut season in Spain when Danjuma really burst into life, scoring 16 goals in all competitions, including six in the Champions League as the Yellow Submarine reached the semi-final stage.

So, the quality is certainly there, it's just about unlocking it. It could be said that around more unorthodox players such as Eberechi Eze, the winger could rediscover his best form.

When compared, both Danjuma and Olise are glaringly similar at their best when it comes to output. The reported Palace target completed more take-ons per 90 at his best for Villarreal in his debut season, whilst also enjoying a better take-on success percentage.

So, the ability to take players out of games in one-on-one situations that Roy Hodgson would lose without Olise can be gained by bringing Danjuma to Selhurst Park this summer.

In the Netherlands winger, you wouldn't be getting a player who assists as often as his French counterpart, but you would be getting a more natural goalscorer. And, given that Palace's top scorer last season was Eze with ten goals, another player who knows where the back of the net is wouldn't go amiss.

Speaking on Danjuma's quality, Kevin Phillips told Football Insider back in 2022: "On his day he is a nightmare for defenders. He can create and score goals. He can hurt any defence with his pace and directness.

“I know it was in the Championship but he’s proved he can perform in this country. I think he’d be available for reasonable money as well. I don’t think he’d cost the world.

“He is a player who can hurt any defence on his day. He’s shown that countless times. Players like him are a rarity in this day and age.”

With that said, it is clear that, if Palace do sign Danjuma, they'd be getting themselves a solution to their enforced Olise absence.

Rangers Can Repeat Bassey Masterclass With £2k-p/w Starlet

Glasgow Rangers have had to resort to finding some bargains from south of the border over the last few years in order to limit lavish spending, and there have been a few gems unearthed by Steven Gerrard and Michael Beale.

In January, Todd Cantwell was signed for just £1.5m having struggled at Norwich City during the early stages of last season, yet he sparked into life upon joining the Ibrox side, registering 11 goal contributions in just 20 matches.

His rise to prominence in the SPFL is reminiscent of Calvin Bassey, who arrived in Glasgow for a compensation fee of just £230k in 2020, and having amassed 65 appearances in his two seasons at the club, he was sold for a remarkable £23m to Ajax last summer, turning out to be an excellent signing in terms of profitability.

Could Beale perhaps repeat that masterclass by making a move for Leeds United defender Charlie Cresswell during the summer transfer window?

According to Football League World, the Gers recently had a bid rejected for Cresswell, yet this shouldn’t stop Beale from pursuing the youngster.

Could Rangers sign Charlie Cresswell?

The Ibrox side have a plethora of central defensive options, with Connor Goldson, John Souttar, Ben Davies and Leon King in the first-team squad, although there has been some interest shown in Davies from the English Championship, and if he did move on, Beale will require another defender in his squad.

Cresswell could certainly follow in Bassey’s footsteps should he make the move to the Premiership, as he has the ability to shine in Scotland and potentially secure the Light Blues a decent profit should he depart after a few years.

The 20-year-old enjoyed an excellent campaign at Millwall during 2022/23 while on loan from Leeds, averaging a Sofascore rating of 7.13/10 for his 28 appearances while adding four goals, suggesting he could be a goal threat.

Millwall loanee Charlie Cresswell.

Across the whole season, he ranked second in the Millwall side for overall rating, accurate passes per game (28.1) and clearances per game (3.1), while also finishing in the top three for interceptions per game (1.3), implying that he could have the maturity to shine in the senior ranks at such a young age – and by moving to a club like Rangers, not only will he challenge for honours, but he may also have the opportunity to play in the Champions League.

The £2k-per-week starlet was lauded as a player who has “amazing attributes” by Gary Rowett, and with Bassey making the move from Leicester City to Rangers and grabbing his opportunity with both hands, Cresswell could soon represent another stroke of genius by the Ibrox side.

Levy Set To Keep £192k-Per-Week Dynamo At Tottenham

Tottenham Hotspur’s Heung-min Son will “want to help Tottenham bounce back” in the Premier League next season, believes transfer insider Dean Jones.

The winger has recently been linked with a move to the free-spending Saudi Pro League, but Jones gets the impression that he will want to remain in North London and help the club rediscover its form next year.

What is going on with Heung-min Son at Tottenham?

Reports from journalist Ben Jacobs revealed last week that the South Korean international is a transfer target for the Middle Eastern league and “legwork” is “already underway” on a potential deal.

The “world-class” winger, as described by former manager Antonio Conte, has struggled to find form this season, scoring just 10 goals in the league.

However, with just two years left on his current deal, any move away from N17 won’t be cheap, with Transfermarkt valuing the 6 foot forward at €60m (£51m).

Despite the clear connection between the Chuncheon-born player and Spurs faithful, a bumper pay packet could tempt him away from European football, especially since he will be turning 31 this year, and retirement could be on his mind.

With his current wages estimated to be £192k-per-week, the example of Karim Benzema earning a massive £200m a season might be just too alluring.

What did transfer insider Dean Jones say about the stories linking Heung-min Son with a move away from Tottenham Hotspur?

Jones gets the impression that despite the links away from the club, especially the ones to recent headline makers, the Saudi Pro League, Son will want to remain with the Lilywhites for at least another year.

Speaking to Football FanCast, Jones said: “I’d be surprised if he went there. He’s not the sort of player that’s just looking for a payday he’s been very committed to Tottenham.

“I think he’s going to continue to be important to them next season. I think he’ll want to help Tottenham bounce back from that disappointing season.”

Has Heung-min Son’s season really been as bad as everyone seems to think?

There is no denying that the South Korean’s season in the Premier League has been somewhat underwhelming compared to previous years.

However, you’d think from the way people talk about the player that he has been cataclysmically bad, which isn’t the case.

According to WhoScored, the former Leverkusen man has averaged a fairly respectable rating of 6.95 across his 33 games in the league.

His performances in Europe have also been fairly consistent, seeing him earn an average rating of 6.8 across eight games in the Champions League.

His underlying numbers were also better than expected.

According to FBref, who compares players in similar positions across Europe’s top five leagues, Son was still within the top 16% for non-penalty expected goals per 90, despite his slender return in the league.

With all that considered, it might be fairer to view this season as simply a dip in form, one he should recover from.

West Ham Can Sign Bowen 2.0 With ‘Unbelievable’ £25m Talent

Jarrod Bowen etched his name in West Ham United folklore when firing in the winning goal in last week's Europa Conference League final victory over Fiorentina.

That 90th-minute strike earned United a 2-1 win in Prague and ended the club's 43-year wait for a major trophy, while at the same time helping to cover the cracks of a poor Premier League campaign.

Bowen is not the only player West Ham have signed from a Championship club, having brought the forward in from Hull City for around £20m three-and-a-half years ago, and they may be about to repeat the trick.

According to the Daily Mail, the Hammers are in the running to sign Alex Scott from second-tier side Bristol City, though they face competition from Premier League rivals Bournemouth and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Is Alex Scott ready for the Premier League?

Scott is still aged just 19, yet he has already racked up 81 appearances for City in the Championship, almost half of those (40) coming in the 2022-23 season.

The ten yellow cards Scott collected in the league last season – the most of any City player – gives a rough indication of what the England U20 international is all about.

However, the Guernsey-born youngster – who can play as a holding midfielder, attacking midfielder and even out wide – particularly thrives in terms of beating his opponents and getting the ball forward.

Indeed, with 2.34 progressive carries per 90 minutes over the past year, Scott ranks in the top 22% of his positional peers, as per FBref. He is also in the top 17% when it comes to successful take-ons.

Jarrod Bowen West Ham

Scott's impressive midfield game at such a young age earned him the ultimate compliment earlier this year when Pep Guardiola described him as an "unbelievable player" following Manchester City's 3-0 win at Ashton Gate in the FA Cup fifth round.

The Robins' reported £25m valuation is said to be putting prospective buyers off making a move but, as was the case with Bowen, there is value to be had from signing players from the Championship.

Like Scott, Bowen had only been a Championship regular for two full seasons before being given a Premier League chance by West Ham.

As pointed out by transfer insider ExWHUEmployee on The West Ham Way podcast, the Hammers are "looking at players in the Championship" this summer with the belief that they will adapt to the Premier League quicker than a foreign import, such as big-money recruit Gianluca Scamacca last year.

Bowen is not West Ham's only success story when recruiting players from further down the ladder, with the likes of Michail Antonio, Flynn Downes and Aaron Cresswell all making an impact. Last season, those four players made a combined 120 appearances in the Premier League alone.

The lure of European football next season, plus a sizeable sum of up to £100m incoming for Declan Rice, means West Ham can lure a higher calibre of player to the London Stadium this summer.

But it may well be that a player such as Scott ticks all the boxes for David Moyes as he looks to repeat the success of previous windows.

Manchester United’s Kim Min-jae Deal Now In Trouble

It might not be as straightforward now in Manchester United's pursuit of Kim Min-jae, with Sky Sports journalist Florian Plettenberg reporting that Bayern Munich have entered the race for the player.

Is Kim Min-jae joining Manchester United?

The defender has really burst onto the scene this season thanks to an incredible year in Italy with Napoli that has seen the club claim the Serie A title. The 26-year-old played a key part in that success, featuring on 35 occasions in the league for the side and even bagging two goals and two assists along the way. It marks his first season in the country but he already looks right at home in the centre of that Napoli defence.

In addition, he's proven himself as having a superb ability to take the ball with his feet and to play out from the back with ease. With a 90.2% pass completion rate, he ranks amongst the top 10% of players in his position amongst the Men's 'Top Five' big leagues for example. It shows that not only is he a standout talent in his domestic league but is one of the best at doing so in Europe.

It's led to big interest in his services from Man United in the Premier League, who have been keen to get a deal done. It had looked like a move was all but completed too, with a report suggesting that he would link-up with Erik Ten Hag's side on July 1, with the Red Devils agreeing to pay his 60 million Euro (£51m) release clause and already agreeing personal terms.

Napoli's Kim Min-jae

However, according to a report from Sky Sports journalist Florian Plettenberg, there is now competition for his signature. Bayern Munich are keeping tabs on the situation and could launch their own bid for the centre-back. The German giants are seemingly "aware" of United's eagerness to snap up Kim and the Red Devils are now "pushing" to get a deal over the line with this new twist in the race to sign the player.

How many games has Kim Min-jae played?

The Napoli man is an experienced head already, despite being only 26. As well as his 35 league showings for Napoli this campaign, he also featured heavily for Fenerbache in Turkey, playing 31 times for the title-chasing club. Prior to that, he also had three seaons with Beijing Guoan and two with Jeonbuk. It means that he has now accumulated 157 league games worth of action in his career already.

That has led to him becoming the player he is today, with the defender now earning the nickname of "monster" because of his performances. If United can get a deal done then, they would be getting a player who certainly appears capable of slotting straight into their backline.

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