Liverpool eye £30m Bayern defender as Slot targets backline upgrade | OneFootball

Liverpool Monitoring £30m Kim Min-jae as Bayern Consider Summer Sale

Defensive Depth a Priority for Liverpool

As Bayern Munich reportedly prepare to part ways with Kim Min-jae, Liverpool’s recruitment department has been alerted. According to BayernInsider, the Bundesliga giants are “willing to offload Kim Min-Jae in the summer transfer window, and several clubs, including Liverpool, are interested.” For Arne Slot, who is seeking to inject fresh energy and resilience into his defensive line, this could be an ideal opportunity.

Liverpool’s need for a dependable centre-back is no secret. Virgil van Dijk remains a colossal presence, but time is ticking. “Van Dijk will continue at Anfield for another couple of years, but doubts remain over the long-term futures of Jarrell Quansah and Joe Gomez.” Add to that Ibrahima Konaté’s unresolved contract and the search becomes not just about depth, but security.

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PSG and AC Milan Join the Race

Liverpool are not alone. Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain and Serie A stalwarts AC Milan are also linked. PSG, in particular, have stepped up their interest. “As per Foot Mercato, Luis Campos, the club’s sports advisor, has met with the South Korean’s agent.” However, Bild report the meeting hasn’t taken place yet, though PSG “are very fond of the defender, whose value has dropped to £30m.”

That valuation puts Kim in a rare bracket of affordability and pedigree. Clubs like Chelsea and Newcastle United, also reportedly interested, may see that as a bargain.

Bayern Shift Tactics Under Kompany

The new era at Bayern is taking shape under Vincent Kompany. While “Kompany used Min-jae heavily last season, he has failed to recapture the form he showed during his time at Napoli.” Bayern have now secured Jonathan Tah and are eyeing Maxime Esteve, whom Kompany coached at Burnley. That shift in direction has pushed Kim closer to the exit door.

With the defender set to travel with Bayern for the Club World Cup, “his future is far from certain in the summer.” Liverpool, with a clear need and a manager keen to build from the back, may now need to act quickly.

Our View – Anfield Index Analysis

There’s a cautious sense of optimism around this one. Kim Min-jae at £30 million feels like a smart, value-driven move that echoes the kind of savvy recruitment Liverpool built their recent success upon. Fans will remember his towering performances for Napoli, and while Bayern has not been the right fit, Anfield might just be.

With Konaté’s contract up in the air and uncertainty surrounding Joe Gomez’s consistency and fitness, signing a seasoned international feels like the kind of proactive business Liverpool fans have been craving. Arne Slot is known for tactical structure and defensive organisation, two areas Kim could thrive in again with the right coaching.

There’s also a realisation among the fanbase that this summer could define the post-Klopp rebuild. Fail to land key reinforcements and the squad risks looking thin when injuries inevitably strike. Bringing in someone like Kim sends the right message, not just to rivals, but to the dressing room itself.

The timing is crucial. With PSG hovering and Bayern eager to sell, Liverpool must strike before the market inflates again. In many ways, this feels like the perfect storm — but only if the club choose to navigate it.