Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is ‘serious’ about signing Napoli star Kim Min-jae to bolster the Red Devils’ backline, according to TuttoMercatoWeb (h/t Mirror).

Min-jae Kim of SSC Napoli linked with Manchester United. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)

The Old Trafford side are ‘ready to striker’ for the centre-back’s signature. However, a deal for the South Korea international is likely next summer.

Luciano Spalletti’s team signed the 26-year-old in the recent transfer window. As a result, they will not be keen on letting him leave just six months after his arrival from Fenerbahce.

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is keen on Napoli defender Kim Min-jae. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)

Min-jae has been brilliant in his short time in Italy. The defender has caught a lot of people’s eyes with his displays for the Partenopei in the current campaign.

Napoli are at the top of the Serie A table at the moment. The Patenopei are unbeaten in the league this season. They also finished top of their Champions League group and will face Eintracht Frankfurt in the round of 16.

The South Korean has been a pivotal player for Spalletti. This term, the 26-year-old has made 20 appearances in all competitions for the Italian outfit and has found the back of the net two times.

Min-jae also featured for his national side in Qatar. The 26-year-old started in three of South Korea’s four fixtures at the 2022 World Cup. However, the Taegeuk Warriors were beaten by Brazil in the round of 16.

Erik ten Hag has a stacked backline for now. Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez have been the Dutch manager’s preferred pairing this season. However, the former Ajax head coach can also count on Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof.

Thus, until a defender decides to leave the Red Devils in the coming months, Min-jae’s signing does not seem necessary. However, will the Old Trafford side sign the South Korean further down the line? Only time will tell.

Eriksen adamant Man Utd have put Ronaldo era behind them

Christian Eriksen said he was “sad” that Cristiano Ronaldo is no longer with Manchester United but insisted that the club can push on without one of the biggest name’s in their history.

“We are sad that Ronaldo is not part of it,” said Eriksen following United’s 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest on Tuesday, their first match since the controversial departure of the Portuguese star.

“His legacy and his name at any club is special. For me to be fortunate to play with him in my career was very nice.”

Ronaldo’s rollercoaster second spell at Old Trafford came to an end during the World Cup break after an explosive interview in which he took aim at new manager Erik ten Hag and the club’s owners.

On the field, his influence had already waned since the Dutch coach took charge at the start of the season.

And there was no sense he was missed on Tuesday as goals from the in-form Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and Fred saw United overpower Forest and close on the top four.

“The football goes on,” said Eriksen. “You feel that the next game after, people will forget what it was like before and now our focus is really like he (Ronaldo) is not here.”

The Denmark midfielder added: “The atmosphere is good, we have a lot of people coming back from the World Cup, the last guys are coming back and everyone is coming together.”

Rashford has now scored eight goals in 13 games for club and country, with Eriksen glad the 25-year-old has maintained the form he showed for England at the World Cup.

“He played very well. Luckily I haven’t been on the pitch where he has played a bad game yet,” said Eriksen, with the Red Devils now just a point off a Champions League spot and a game in hand over fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur.

“He is looking sharp and confident and you can feel that when he is going forward.

“You feel that in the stadium and you feel that with him. It is a nice thing and I hope he keeps it going.

“You can see that he came back pretty confident. I didn’t see much of his games, of course, but he came back in good shape and luckily he has taken that into United.”

SOURCE: weallfollowunited.com