Italian side Napoli have identified an Arsenal centre-back to replace Kim Min-jae ahead of the summer transfer window.
Napoli won their first league title in over 30 years this season with the help from South Korean centre-back, Kim Min-jae. The 26-year-old made 35 appearances for the Italian side throughout the 2022/23 campaign, scoring two goals and recording two assists. His impressive performances that helped Napoli lift the title has meant many clubs around Europe are keeping a close eye on him this summer.
Arsenal’s rivals, Manchester United are one club looking to sign the South Korean centre-back this summer with Napoli reportedly setting their sights on Arsenal’s Jakub Kiwior as a potential replacement ahead of next season.
Jakub Kiwior only joined Arsenal in January from Italian side, Speiza Calcio for a fee of £20million. The Polish centre-back has gone on to make eight appearances for the Gunners since then, most notably when William Saliba got injured in February and Rob Holding dropped out of the side.
Jakub Kiwior is a target for Napoli this summer. [Image Credit: Getty Images]
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Jakub Kiwior put in two very impressive performances against Chelsea and Newcastle United towards the end of Arsenal’s Premier League campaign which showed everyone why Mikel Arteta wanted to bring him in mid-way through the season. The 23-year-old also scored his first goal for the club on the final day against Wolves at the Emirates.
Napoli might be interested in the player, however word has it that the transfer is deemed impossible from Arsenal’s point of view. The Gunners only signed Kiwior in January and with Mikel Arteta a big fan of the player and with him yet to reach his full potential, Arsenal will not be looking to let the Polish centre-back leave only a few months after bringing him in.
Napoli will have to look elsewhere for centre-back targets this summer, however they’re also interested in Arsenal striker, Folarin Balogun ahead of next season which is a much more likely transfer to happen.
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