Manchester United will reportedly watch Kim Min-jae during the World Cup, as the South Korean could be on his way out of Bayern Munich.
The global tournament represents a major opportunity for the clubs to scout players, whether they’re unsung profiles looking to make a breakthrough or more renowned stars who could be available on the market.
According to German journalist Philipp Kessler, Man Utd have been tracking Kim for quite some time, and will take the World Cup as an opportunity to collect more data on the defender.
Manchester United representatives have been watching Kim Min-jae for some time and will continue to watch him at the World Cup, though nothing concrete has developed so far. Juventus and top Turkish clubs also have Kim on their radar. The Korean defender is generally happy in… pic.twitter.com/EJzjcvJG5V
— Bayern & Germany (@iMiaSanMia) June 11, 2026
Why Man Utd are interested in Kim Min-jae
Kim is a 29-year-old central defender who made a name for himself in Europe during his time at Fenerbahce, which earned him a transfer to Napoli in the summer of 2022.
‘The Monster’, as he is known among football fans, only spent one year in Italian football, but it was certainly one to remember. His exploits at the back helped the Partenopei win their first league title since Diego Armando Maradona’s glory years, and he was named the Serie A Defender of the Year.
Kim’s inspiring displays at the back convinced Bayern Munich to trigger his release clause by paying €50 million (or £43 million). However, he hasn’t been able to replicate his Napoli levels at the Allianz Arena.
The South Korean international has been reduced to an understudy for Dayot Upamecano and Jonthan Tah in Vincent Kompany’s pecking order.
Nevertheless, he remains a key player for his nation and will be keen to prove his worth this summer. He has already helped South Korea beat the Czech Republic by two goals to one on the opening day of the World Cup.
Where would Kim fit at Man United?
With five centre-backs vying for two starting roles, one could argue that signing another defender shouldn’t be a top priority for Michael Carrick’s team.
Nevertheless, it should be remembered that Kim’s former teammate at Bayern, Matthijs de Ligt, has been out with a devastating back problem since November, and could remain on the sidelines for several months after undergoing surgery. Lisandro Martinez has also been struggling with occasional setbacks after returning from an ACL injury this season.
Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven continue to develop their games, but they both remain far from a finished article.
Finally, Harry Maguire might be United’s most reliable centre-back at this stage, but he only signed a one-year renewal, so he could be on his way out come June 2027.
Therefore, Kim could add depth to Carrick’s defensive department this season, before taking the torch from Maguire, should the latter end up leaving the club by this time next year.
Touches 99%
Chances created 30%
Shot attempts 21%
Aerial duels won 69%
Goals 41%
Defensive contributions 54%
(Kim’s Stats via FotMob)
It should be noted that the South Korean and the Englishman have several common denominators, most notably their imposing presence at the back, aerial competence, and their tendency to play at the left side despite being right-footed.
Michel is a football journalist based in Beirut who has been passionately following Man United for over 20 years. He is a Law graduate and a member of the Beirut Bar Association. In addition to writing for Utd Report, he is also the Head Writer for The Laziali has been a Featured Writer on other websites including Juve FC, and The Cult of Calcio, and Stretty News.
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