Manchester United’s scouting department has its eyes on Kim Min-jae again. The South Korean center-back, now firmly established at Bayern Munich, is being monitored by United during the 2026 World Cup, continuing a pursuit that dates back nearly four years without producing a single formal bid.
A long history of window shopping
United’s interest in Kim is not new. The club first started tracking the defender during the 2022 FIFA World Cup, when the South Korean international was turning heads with commanding performances on the global stage.
At the time, Kim was playing for Napoli, where he had become one of Serie A’s most dominant defenders, playing an instrumental role in securing the Serie A title in the 2022–23 season. He also made history as the first Asian centre-back nominated for the Ballon d’Or.
By June 2023, reports identified Kim as one of Manchester United’s top defensive targets. The club was reportedly aware of his release clause at Napoli, which opened the door to a potential deal.
