Lee Kang-in's Summer Transfer Interest Sparks Speculation

I had no idea it would become so popular...

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) listed Lee Kang-in as a potential sell-out in the early stages of the summer transfer window.

It was determined that there was no further space for him to play in the team coached by Luis Enrique. Until mid-last season, Lee Kang-in, who showcased his versatility like a 'Madangsoe,' had been treated as an extra player since January and appeared set to leave PSG and soon join another team.

However, as of July, Lee Kang-in has not received any concrete offers. All the clubs that initially showed interest in Lee Kang-in have since withdrawn and opted for alternative decisions. Ultimately, Lee Kang-in is expected to remain under pressure to stay.

It was reported that Napoli, which had been seen as Lee Kang-in's final option, also ceased to show interest.

The BBC, the UK's most trusted public broadcaster, is seeking a new forward on the 28th (Korean time). 'The potential candidates include Raheem Sterling and Jack Grealish,' he reported, referencing an Italian media source, Sky News.

Napoli initially targeted Dan Ndoye as their main focus, yet they face challenges in avoiding competition from Nottingham Forest. Moreover, the buyout clauses have been rejected. Meanwhile, Sterling and Grealish mentioned that the future of their respective teams is uncertain. Sterling returned to Chelsea following a loan spell at Arsenal last season, but he was not included in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 squad. Grealish also stated that his participation in the Club World Cup (with Manchester City) has been canceled.

Another news source, TBR Football, also stated that Napoli manager Antonio Conte supported Sterling's signing as a substitute for Ndoye.

These news articles share a common aspect. The name "Lee Kang-in" is not mentioned anywhere. This serves as evidence that Napoli has no interest in Lee Kang-in whatsoever.

Napoli has been involved in trying to sign Lee Kang-in up until just last month. Initially, Napoli had a strong interest in Lee Kang-in. During the January transfer window, when PSG paid a significant transfer fee of 70 million euros (approximately 111.5 billion won) to acquire Napoli's star player Hvicha Kvaratshelia, Napoli also aimed to include Lee Kang-in as part of a swap deal. However, PSG considered Lee Kang-in as a 'transferable' player and turned down Napoli's proposal.

Subsequently, at the start of the transfer window, Napoli remained interested in Lee Kang-in. Initially, Napoli's plan was to send Andre-Frank Zambo Anguisa, their key midfielder, to Saudi Arabia and then replace him by signing Lee Kang-in.

However, since Angwisa stated his intention to stay in Naples, Lee Kang-in's future course became uncertain. On the 17th of last month, Italian media outlet Corriere dello Sport reported that Napoli's signing of Lee Kang-in has been postponed. It was revealed that Napoli has temporarily halted the recruitment of Lee Kang-in, citing Angwisa's shift in stance as the reason.

In reality, Napoli is thought to have ceased focusing on Lee Kang-in.

At the same time, EPL teams like Arsenal, Manchester United, Newcastle, Tottenham, Crystal Palace, and Nottingham Forest, along with clubs that showed some interest in Lee Kang-in, such as Atletico Madrid from Spain's Primera Liga, shifted their focus towards a more practical option.

Fenerbahce, a renowned Turkish club managed by Jose Mourinho, also briefly showed interest in Lee Kang-in. According to French media VIPSG, Mourinho is closely observing PSG at the start of the transfer window. "Mourinho is watching PSG. There are three players in his focus," he mentioned, stating that he is interested in defender Milan Skriniar, striker Marco Asensio, and Lee Kang-in, who has lost his spot at PSG.

However, Fenerbahce's interest was not particular or engaged.

In summary, Lee Kang-in has not been the first to sign with any club in this summer's transfer window. By the end of July, European teams have already made significant additions to their squads and are now seeking the final pieces. However, no club is currently interested in Lee Kang-in. PSG is left with no option but to keep Lee Kang-in in a similar role as before, akin to "crying and eating mustard."

Lee Kang-in's popularity has faded so far because of the consequences from last season. Lee Kang-in initially tried various positions similar to Enrique's 'One Pick'. He played as a forward, central midfielder, and false nine, switching in and out of these roles.

Nevertheless, its standing significantly declined in the January transfer window with the arrival of Hbicha, who was likened to an upgraded version of Lee Kang-in. Furthermore, the necessity for Lee Kang-in diminished as Usman Dembele's progress and the midfield trio of Fabien Lewis-Vitinya-Jouan Neves formed a powerful synergy. Ultimately, this lineup offers stability. As a result, Lee Kang-in was viewed as an excess asset, and this internal assessment appears to have influenced the transfer market's response.

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