Kim Min-Jae is widely expected to depart Bayern Munich this summer, with the club willing to listen to offers for the South Korean. In case of his departure, an intriguing defensive transfer window domino effect could occur involving him, Ronaldo Araujo, Bayern and Juventus.
Will Kim Min-Jae Leave Bayern Munich?
Despite Kim Min-Jae recently telling the media “I hope I can stay” and “there’s no reason” for him to leave Bayern Munich, the club are seemingly looking for a reason to nudge him out the door.
The 28-year-old may well have played his final game for the newly-crowned Bundesliga champions, with Vincent Kompany expected to rest him for the final two games with a view to preserving him for the summer’s Club World Cup.
Bayern find themselves particularly short on centre-back options ahead of the competition, with Dayot Upamecano and Hiroki Ito ruled out through injury, along with Eric Dier’s imminent departure from the club after rejecting a new deal.
Even in the face of rapidly thinning options at the heart of defence, Bayern are reportedly prepared to sanction the sale of Min-Jae, who has nursed a spate of injuries himself this season, as well as enduring spotty form.
While he hasn’t been explicitly told to leave the club, Bayern executives are keen to raise money for defensive reinforcements this summer.
Juventus Drop Interest in Ronaldo Araujo, Bayern Keen
Juventus, meanwhile, have endured a defensive injury crisis of their own as of late, with just two recognised centre-backs available for their end-of-season European push.
After missing out on their key defensive targets last summer, they filled the gaps with several loanees, including Chelsea’s Renato Veiga, who they are keen to keep beyond this season.
Barcelona’s Ronald Araujo has long been their primary target, and the Uruguayan was reportedly on the verge of a move in January before the Blaugrana reeled him in with a fresh deal.
His departure from Barcelona could still be on the table, with Iñigo Martinez and Pau Cubarsi preferred by manager Hansi Flick. However, penning a new contact in January also came with a new €65m release clause, which Juventus are unprepared to meet according to Tuttomercatoweb.
That has opened the door for other potential suitors — most notably Bayern Munich — who are known to be in the market for a new defender.
In the very likely case that Bayern prepare a bid for Araujo, Kim Min-Jae’s exit from Die Roten would be all but confirmed.
Juventus Hold Long-Standing Interest in Kim Min-Jae
Kim Min-Jae could be the ideal market opportunity for Juventus, with the South Korean international offering bundles of experience at a cut-price.
His aggressive, imposing style of play saw him excel in Serie A during his brief stint at Napoli, where he was integral to their Serie A-winning campaign in 2022-23.
Sporting Director Cristiano Giuntoli, although rumoured to be nearing the end of his tenure, is a keen admirer of Kim Min-Jae, and rumours of Juve’s interest in the defender began to surface back in April.
One key piece of Giuntoli’s plan for Juventus’ defensive future recently included Federico Gatti signing a new contract until 2030.
