PSG (Paris Saint-Germain) intends to protect this river.
Napoli offered to give up Victor Osimhen on the condition that Lee Kang-in be included in the deal, but PSG has no intention of releasing Lee Kang-in. In addition, even if Osimhen is not recruited, he is satisfied with the current team’s striker resources, Gonzalo Hamus and Randal Kolo Muani.
Fabrizio Romano, an expert in the European soccer transfer market who works for the British “Guardian,” said on his social media X (formerly Twitter) account on the 23rd (Korea Standard Time), “The negotiations between PSG and Naples for Osimen have not developed since the recent dialogue,” adding, “PSG refused to include Lee Kang-in in the deal as Napoli wanted, and will not trigger Osimen’s buyout clause.”
Romano then added, “As things stand, it’s not going to happen for Osimhen to PSG. PSG are happy with Hamus and Colomuani.”
It was the first time last week that Lee Kang-in could be used as a negotiation card to recruit Osimen.
At that time, Italian transfer market expert Gianluca DiMargio said on the 16th, “PSG is most interested in Osimhen. Osimhen’s agent was in Paris, the capital of France, on the 15th,” adding that PSG, which wants to recruit Osimhen, plans to include players in the negotiations to recruit him.
The reason PSG was connected to Osimhen was because of Kylian Mbappe, who left the team after his contract expired at the end of last season. It is not expected to be easy to fill the vacancy of Mbappe, who was the club’s best striker, and PSG seemed to have selected Osimhen as a substitute for Mbappe, who showed a consistent scoring ability by becoming the top scorer of Italy’s Serie A in the 2022-23 season for Napoli.
What needs to be noted is the next step. DiMargio has claimed that PSG can include one player in its offer and cash on top of that in order to recruit Osimhen.
DiMargio mentioned a total of three players, including Lee Kang-in. Carlos Soler and Montpellier, Lee Kang-in’s best friends who played with Lee Kang-in and Valencia in the past, and Nordi Mukiele, a defender who moved to PSG in 2022 but failed to establish himself, and Lee Kang-in were mentioned as possible in the negotiations.
There is a reason why PSG wants to include players in the negotiations. Earlier, Napoli President DeLaurentis reportedly set up a 130 million euro buyout clause for Osimhen, but PSG, the richest club in the world, also faces high risks if it pays nearly 200 billion won in cash to a mid-20 player. This is interpreted as the plan to include players in the deal to lower transfer fees to be spent.
The recent explanation is a little different. As PSG was reluctant to trigger Osimhen’s buyout clause due to burden, Napoli suggested including Lee Kang-in in the deal. According to the French media “Foot Mercato,” if Lee Kang-in is added to the transfer fee of 90 million euros, he can give up Osimhen in Naples.
However, PSG has no intention of releasing Lee Kang-in. With Mbappé sidelined, PSG, which intends to form a team of young players to look at him in the long run, distinguishes Lee Kang-in, who showed potential last season, as an important player in its team.
Earlier, Italian journalist Francesco Romano said, “According to information obtained from Lee Kang-in’s agent, Luis Enrique considers Lee Kang-in as a key resource. PSG revealed this point by not including Lee Kang-in in the recruitment of Osimen,” adding, “Coach Enrique considers Lee Kang-in as a key player of PSG and is confident about Lee Kang-in.”
“PSG’s decision not to send Lee Kang-in represents that the club wants to create a competitive team centered on young players,” he explained.
Lee Kang-in also wants to stay at PSG. “Foot Mercato” Jose Kase, who reported that PSG received a large offer from an anonymous Premier League club for Lee Kang-in, said Lee Kang-in has no intention of leaving the club because he is satisfied with his current life at PSG. 퀸알바
There is no reason for Lee Kang-in to choose Napoli. Lee Kang-in has become one of PSG’s replacement members even though he was away from the beginning of his joining, including participating in the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games last season. He has not been completely turned away from the squad, and it is not a good choice to move to another team at a time when he can start competing for the starting lineup in earnest.
Furthermore, it is all the more so if the destination is Naples. The current Napoli season is not the one where Kim Min-jae played in the 2022-23 season. Napoli ended the season by slumping over the past season and falling to the 10th place in the league. Managerial changes have also been made twice. There is no chance to play in UEFA Champions League or UEFA competition next season. For Lee Kang-in, transfer to Napoli is a “downgrade.”
As PSG refused to give up Lee Kang-in, negotiations were also naturally put on hold. As Romano explained, it seems unlikely that Osimhen’s trip to PSG will take place in the current atmosphere.
PSG has nothing to lose. In addition, PSG is not in a bad situation because it has Hamus and Colomouani who joined the team last year, even if it does not recruit Osimhen. Expectations are high that the two players will be able to produce good results if they display their skills and capabilities.
Lee Kang-in, who had been suffering from rumors of a transfer for a while, recently returned to the team. While on vacation in Mallorca, Spain, where his former team belongs, he conducted personal training at the RCD Mallorca training site and returned to PSG on the 22nd local time.
PSG said on its website on the 23rd, “Lee Kang-in has returned to training. Lee Kang-in, who had a pleasant vacation after helping South Korea advance to the third Asian qualifying round for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, returned. Lee Kang-in underwent a pre-season medical test and then moved to PSG campus to do various exercises. Lee Kang-in will return for his first team training this week with his teammates.”