Man Utd upset to miss Kim Min-jae, quickly re-route to second-tier German defender
Manchester United are upset after missing out on Asia’s best wall, Kim Min-Jae (26, Napoli). They are targeting a defender who has been relegated to the Championship (second division).
“Manchester United are interested in Leeds United and Germany international defender Robin Koch, 26,” reports the Metro in England.
Koch has made eight appearances for the German national team. He has played for a number of German clubs, including Freiburg. He joined Leeds from Freiburg in August 2020. His height and physicality come from his 6-foot-2 frame, and he has good man-to-man marking ability and underfoot skills. He made 36 league appearances this season, but struggled as the club was relegated to 19th place.
Koch is on United’s radar. United currently have Rafael Varane and Lysandro Martinez as their starting defenders. They want a proven resource to work alongside them. Initially, Kim Min-jae was on the list, and there were reports that a move was imminent, but his destination changed from United to Bayern Munich.
Fabrizio Romano, who is well versed in European soccer, tweeted on Saturday, “I hope that Munich will pay the buyout amount set for Kim Min-jae in early July. “United are still interested in Kim Min-jae,” he said, adding that “recent reports suggest that the transfer has been finalized. Despite many recent reports, the transfer has not been finalized.”
United need to sign a central defender somehow. They can’t get through a season with Baran and Martinez. Harry Maguire is already on Eric ten Hagg’s radar.안전놀이터
According to the Metro, Maguire is expected to leave United this summer. Therefore, they want to sign a central defender. Koch has been targeted. They have reportedly held discussions in this regard.
Koch is out of contract at Leeds next summer. Arsenal and Newcastle United are also interested. He held contract talks in March this year, but is unlikely to stay after Leeds dropped to the second tier.
