Having arrived from Mallorca during the summer transfer window in July 2023, 24-year-old South Korean midfielder/winger Lee Kang-In is under contract with Paris Saint-Germain until June 2028. He took some time to adapt and establish himself, but has finally grown in stature. This hasn’t stopped rumors of a departure, however. There has been talk of interest from Atlético Madrid in recent days. Marca now claims that PSG has a price tag and coach Luis Enrique has a clear stance.
“One of the obstacles to overcome is Luis Enrique’s willingness to sell.”
The South Korean player, Atlético Madrid’s top target this winter transfer window to bolster their attack, is valued between 40 and 50 million euros, a price set by PSG given Atlético’s evident interest. Mateu Alemany traveled to Paris last week to begin negotiations to bring the former Mallorca and Valencia player to the Metropolitano Stadium.
But Kang’s transfer isn’t simply a matter of money. Indeed, one of the obstacles to overcome is Luis Enrique’s desire not to lose a player during the winter transfer window. Although the Korean isn’t a guaranteed starter, he is a regular in the lineup. So much so that the Asturian coach doesn’t want to lose him in January. Of course, the summer transfer window would be a different story.
Nothing is impossible, but we must remain very cautious. It’s still just a rumor, without any confirmation. This is especially true regarding Lee’s possible desire to leave PSG, where he had been steadily improving before his injury in December. And there’s still room for improvement for the second half of the season.
This is, in fact, the most credible aspect of the rumor: that Luis Enrique is counting on the Korean international and is closing the door on any potential transfer. Especially since replacing him in the final days would be difficult. With his versatility and team spirit, in addition to his talent, he perfectly fits the Spanish coach’s project.
The price mentioned isn’t impossible, but it’s also far from certain, as the feeling is that the coach is ruling out a transfer. Furthermore, the Spanish media mentioned a possible loan with an option to buy from Atlético Madrid, but that now seems very unlikely. Above all, there’s nothing concrete to support a transfer.
