“From Bayern to the Toon?” Newcastle make bold move for Bundesliga star – Player very open to move
Newcastle approach Bayern Munich star – Player ‘very open’ to move – Report
Newcastle have reportedly opened talks with a European giant over a £40m-plus centre back to revamp their back line.
Fabian Schar and Dan Burn have performed beyond their very best this season, but they are 33 and 32 respectively and can’t be considered long-term options at the back. Sven Botman went under the knife for an ACL tear last March, and lasted just five games upon his return in January.
Even if the Dutchman returns to his best next season, Newcastle need to source a right-sided defender to slot in alongside the 25-year-old with Schar ticking down to the final stages of his career despite a contract extension until summer 2026.
The latest name linked can be considered amongst Europe’s elite, and would be a massive statement of intent if Newcastle manage to pull it off.
Newcastle in contact over Kim Min-Jae?
Newcastle have reached out to the representatives of Bayern Munich’s Kim Min-Jae and are ready to compete with Chelsea for the centre-backs signature, according to Foot Mercato.
The report states that the centre-back is very open to leaving the Bundesliga giants this summer and will listen to offers.
The South Korean became highly sought after when he was a mainstay in the Napoli side that won Serie A in 2022/23. Bayern won the race for his signature that summer, and the 28-year-old has continued to impress in Bavaria.
Kim would surely only sign with the guarantee that he is a starter, pushing Schar into a slot on the bench despite his imperious form that has seen him age like a fine wine.
It would be slightly differ from what is believed to be sporting director Paul Mitchell’s general search group, which is believed to centre around exciting young talents from abroad – but if a good deal can be struck for Kim with Bayern listening to offers, a bargain could be had.
A realistic target?
For me, this one comes down to the asking price of Bayern Munich and whether or not Kim Min-Jae would represent good value from a Newcastle perspective.
We have more freedom this summer from a PSR point of view, but the business that we conduct has to be intelligent and forward thinking and I’m not sure if the South Korean fits into that criteria unless Bayern are keen to get rid of him.
The £50million release clause of Bournemouth’s Dean Huijsen is rightly drawing the attraction of many Premier League clubs and some on the continent, and if we are to miss out on the 20-year-old I would hope we go for a player of a similar profile.
Our defence is already aging, and adding someone who isn’t far from 30 feels to me like a fail in forward planning. There has to be options younger who can come into our defence and immediately secure minutes.
