With plenty of attention on Harry Kane taking on Manchester United, Bayern Munich have a defender who could easily have been opposing the Englishman.
Early in the summer it had appeared Kim Min-Jae would be Manchester United’s first summer signing.
A release clause in his Napoli contract made the Serie A title winner an attractive option, and The Guardian reported in early June that the South Korean international was United’s top defensive target.
There were almost daily updates from Italy on United’s pursuit. Then it all subsided, and by July, it was Bayern Munich who paid the £43 million fee to sign the former Fenerbahce centre-back.
Why Manchester United did not sign Kim Min-Jae
Manchester United pivoted away from targeting a centre-back, focusing funds on signing Mason Mount, and then pursuing goalkeeper Andre Onana.
At one stage, United had been in line to keep David de Gea. This changed, possibly due to his FA Cup final performance, and United’s priorities shifted.
By time Bayern swooped in for Kim Min-Jae, United had already stepped away.
Adding a centre-back was also dependent on letting one go, namely Harry Maguire.
An early move for Kim could have forced the issue, but to sign him with his release clause active from July 1, United really needed to get Maguire out the door early. And United could not even get rid of Maguire by the transfer deadline.
This meant United could not afford to buy another centre-back, so while Bayern have signed one of the world’s most in-form defenders, Erik ten Hag was left to strengthen by adding 35-year-old Jonny Evans on a free transfer.
Kim Min-Jae v Rasmus Hojlund
Kim Min-Jae is nicknamed ‘the monster’ and he will be looking to show how powerful and quick he is when he takes on Manchester United with Bayern tonight, and also in the return game at Old Trafford.
He will be tested against one player United did spend money on, £64 million striker Rasmus Hojlund.
The Denmark international has only started one game for the club so far due to injury, and is expected to lead the line at the Allianz Arena. He will embrace the challenge, against a defender he knows from Serie A.
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