Napoli have accepted that they may have to sell star defender Kim Min-jae this summer despite long insisting that he will stay at the club.
The South Korea international has announced himself as one of the world’s leading centre-backs since his move to Serie A from Fenerbahce last summer, and is known to be of interest to Manchester United, Liverpool and a number of other leading clubs.
The 26-year-old has played a key role in helping Napoli win their first Scudetto since 1990, and the Partenopei have spent much of the year trying to tie Kim down to new and improved deal.
While a contract extension is not off the table and they are reluctant to part ways, Napoli would find it hard to knock back bids for Kim in excess of €60m amid increasing interest.
Kim’s current deal contains a release clause worth around €45m which sources believe is active for the first two weeks of the summer transfer window.
Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham were also at the Stadio Diego Maradona on Sunday and are long-term admirers of Kim – Spurs notably made a play for him when he was at Beijing Guoan in 2020.
Paris Saint-Germain have kept eyes on Kim too, though with Milan Skriniar arriving on a free transfer from Inter this summer, another centre-back is not seen as a priority for them right now.