Lee Kang-in (22-Real Mallorca) is the favorite to replace Lionel Messi (36-Inter Miami). Reports in Spain suggest that Lee is close to finalizing a move to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). The report comes from Matteo Moretto, who is considered to be one of the most trusted sources in the Spanish soccer transfer market.
“Kang-In Lee is one step closer to joining Paris Saint-Germain (Kang-In Lee esta a un paso del PSG),” the Spanish outlet Relevo reported on Wednesday afternoon (July 13), adding that “South Korean soccer player Lee Kang-In, who has performed well in the Spanish Primera Liga this season, is very close to signing for Paris Saint-Germain.”
“There has been a reversal in the transfer of Lee Kang-in,” Relevo continued, “With Atletico Madrid having effectively withdrawn from the race for Lee in the last 12 days, it is not only the English Premier League (EPL) clubs that have emerged, but also Paris Saint-Germain. “Paris Saint-Germain have been monitoring Lee closely in recent months and have accelerated their pursuit of the player,” said the report.
“The negotiations between Paris Saint-Germain and Real Mallorca are progressing well. The parties are keen to finalize the deal soon. The deal between Paris Saint-Germain and Lee Kang-In already exists. The two clubs, Paris Saint-Germain and Real Mallorca, are discussing bonus clauses and are close to finalizing the transfer.”
Lee Kang-in transfer surges, “Paris Saint-Germain close to finalizing deal”
With the 2022-23 season now over, the transfer speculation surrounding Lee Kang-In is heating up. Earlier, Matteo Moretti said, “Lee will not sign for Atletico Madrid. The negotiations between Real Mallorca and Atletico Madrid over the transfer of Lee have broken down.” Less than a day later, he was linked with a move to Paris Saint-Germain.
“Atletico Madrid have been pursuing Lee since January. Aston Villa, Burnley, and Wolverhampton were other clubs that wanted him. Manchester United have also inquired about him. Now, however, it looks like he’s not only out of Spain, but also out of the Premier League. With Kylian Mbappe’s departure rumored in the last few hours, Paris Saint-Germain are moving decisively forward (on a deal for Lee). There is an option for the deal to be finalized in the next few days.”
Lee Kang-in (center). /Photo=News1
Lee Kang-in. /Photo=Real Mallorca official social media accounts
Lee Kang-in (center). /Photo=Newsie
Lee Kang-in. /Photo=Spanish Primera Liga official social media account
It was a big night for the club. Paris Saint-Germain is the most prestigious club in the French Ligue 1. This season, they won 27 games, drew four, and lost seven (85 points) to win the league title by one point over second-place RC Reims (84 points). However, the team is showing signs of change after the end of the season with the departure of key players. Lionel Messi, the team’s biggest international star, is leaving for Inter Miami and will be playing in the United States. In addition, Kylian Mbappe has reportedly indicated that he will not extend his contract with Paris Saint-Germain, according to local reports. Mbappe has been linked with a move to Real Madrid.
Another Spanish publication, Marca, has also added fuel to the fire when it comes to Lee Kang-in’s move to Paris Saint-Germain. “Lee is attracting interest from EPL clubs and Atletico Madrid. It is understood that Paris Saint-Germain have recently entered the race to sign him.” According to the report, Paris Saint-Germain president Luis Campos, who is in charge of player recruitment at the club, has been in talks with Real Mallorca for several weeks to sign Lee. This is not far from what Matteo Moretto of another Spanish outlet, Relevo, said earlier.
In fact, Lee has been linked to a number of EPL clubs in the past. Aston Villa, Newcastle, Brighton and Hove Albion, Wolverhampton, and Burnley have all been mentioned, as well as Tottenham, where Son plays. Among Spanish teams, Real Sociedad, which finished the season in fourth place and qualified for the Champions League, and Real Betis, which finished sixth and qualified for the Europa League, were mentioned, with occasional mentions of Manchester United, Napoli, and Paris Saint-Germain.
Paris Saint-Germain president Luis Campos was a big fan of Lee Kang-in, “guaranteeing him playing time,” practically a superpower.
Of course, most Korean soccer fans are more familiar with the Premier League, where Son Heung-min and Hwang Hee-chan play, but it’s no exaggeration to say that Paris Saint-Germain, which dominates the Ligue 1, is one of the world’s leading soccer clubs. On top of that, Paris Saint-Germain will qualify for the UEFA Champions League next season as the Ligue 1 champions. This could be a showcase for Lee, who needs more attention. According to Marca, Paris Saint-Germain have promised Lee a guaranteed playing time that includes Champions League appearances. If this is true, it’s a de facto guarantee of a starting spot, which is a pretty big deal. “Paris Saint-Germain president Luis Campos is a big fan of Lee,” Marca said.
What’s more, Paris Saint-Germain are not a team that skimp on investment. This means that Lee will be able to showcase his skills to the fullest against his more talented teammates. While they have won two consecutive league titles, they have yet to accomplish anything in the Champions League. Last season, they were knocked out in the round of 16, even with a strong front three of Messi, Neymar, and Mbappe. With Messi’s departure and Mbappe’s transfer rumors swirling, Neymar has also been linked to the Saudi Arabian league. However, Mbappe’s contract with Paris Saint-Germain runs through 2024 and Neymar’s through 2027, so there’s still time. Of course, if they all leave, the offense will be weakened. However, there’s also the possibility that the team could rebuild around Lee.
That’s how much his value has increased. This season, Lee has been a revelation in terms of form. In 36 league appearances, he scored six goals and provided six assists. This is the most offensive points in a season since his debut. He scored the second most goals and provided the most assists on the team, helping Mallorca stay in the top flight. Finished the season with 14 wins, 8 draws, and 16 losses (50 points), good for ninth place out of 20 teams in the league. European soccer statistics site Fúscore.com gave Lee a seasonal rating of 7.09, the highest of any Mallorca player. Lee’s performances in every game were characterized by his quickness, reliable ball retention, penetrating passes that caught opponents off guard, flamboyant individual skills, aggressive defensive engagement and tackling, and storming runs in the closing stages of the game when he might have run out of gas. After the match, he was named the Spanish Primera Liga’s official Man of the Match on six occasions.
Paris Saint-Germain emblem. /AFPBBNews=News1
Lee’s buyout clause is completely gone, but it’s not a problem for a ‘big club’ like Paris Saint-Germain
In fact, the only thing that stood in the way of Lee’s transfer was the buyout clause. A buyout clause allows a club to sign a player without the consent of his club if they pay more than a certain amount. Lee still has two years left on his contract with Real Mallorca until June 2025, but the way things are going, it’s clear that he’ll be leaving the club. Mallorca, for their part, seem intent on maximizing the transfer fee. According to Marca, “Lee’s buyout clause will change depending on his individual performance. His value is much higher than last season. The current buyout is 25 million euros ($35 billion).” Football España also reported that “Lee’s original buyout was 17 million euros ($24 billion), while the current buyout is 25 million euros.” If Paris Saint-Germain, with its deep pockets, believes in Lee’s future growth potential, this is a small investment.토토사이트
Earlier, Relevo broke the news of Atletico Madrid’s failed negotiations with Lee, stating, “Lee is receiving offers from other European clubs, including the EPL. There has been further progress in recent days and we are already close to an agreement. Lee will make a decision on his future outside of Spain within the next week.” And the club that is said to be close to an agreement appears to be Paris Saint-Germain.
Choi Soon-ho was the first Korean soccer player to play in France in 1992. At the time, he joined the French second division side Rodes AF and played one season. Seo Jung-won joined RC Strasbourg in January 1998, and Lee Sang-yoon also played for Lorient. Steady Hwan, who has recently become an active commentator, also wore the jersey of Ligue 1 side FC Metz in 2005. In 2008, Park Joo-young, one of South Korea’s most prominent strikers, joined AS Monaco and impressed as a regular starter. Nam Tae-hee signed for Valenciennes in 2009 and Chung Jo-kook for Auxerre in 2011. In 2017, Kwon Chang-hoon joined Dijon and Seok Hyun-joon joined Troyes. In 2019, Hwang Eui-jo played for Girondins de Bordeaux, and in 2020, Yoon Il-rok played one season for Montpellier. Now, Lee Kang-in is looking to break into the French scene. Will we see him slotting passes to Mbappe and Neymar?