Marca: Atletico Madrid in official transfer talks with PSG for Lee Kang-in

Source: Marca

Transfer Talks Underway

According to the latest report from Marca's Atlético Madrid and team reporter teams, Atlético Madrid is rapidly advancing the transfer of Lee Kang-in.

Lee Kang-in has once again become one of Atlético Madrid sporting director Matteo Alemany's top targets this summer. Paris Saint-Germain is well aware of this, the player himself is eager to join, and Atlético Madrid are already working on it. What seemed impossible in the "hostile" winter transfer window is now very possible.

Everything has yet to be settled, but in terms of hotly anticipated prospects, the South Korean star will be the centerpiece of the club's considered South Korean tour.

Background of Interest

Since Lee Kang-in left Mallorca to join Paris Saint-Germain in 2023, Atlético Madrid has been favoring him. Alemany had been in contact with him as early as January last year. The two have a close relationship, and it was Alemany who facilitated Lee Kang-in's first professional contract when he was 17 years old (the then Valencia general manager promoted him from the youth academy to the first team and signed a four-year contract with him in the summer of 2018).

However, despite Lee Kang-in's desire to wear the red and white jersey, PSG remain firm in their stance, as Luis Enrique is unwilling to lose this strong substitute player in the team.

Nevertheless, initial contact between the two parties led to a commitment: Alemany also clearly told Lee Kang-in that he would resume negotiations with Paris Saint-Germain in the next transfer window.

This promise is gradually being fulfilled, and Lee Kang-in himself has reiterated to PSG his desire to continue his career at a club where he can play a more important role.

Lee Kang-in's Status at Paris Saint-Germain

PSG are currently willing to listen to offers from other clubs. This is driven by two factors:

• Playing time: Since the opening of the winter transfer window, although he has played in almost all Ligue 1 matches, he has almost always appeared as a substitute. He has not played a single minute in the Champions League, whether in the second leg of the quarter-finals, semi-finals, or final.
• Contract situation: His contract expires in 2028, making this summer the perfect time to cash out. Although Nasser is willing to negotiate, Atlético Madrid also knows that he will demand a large transfer fee.

Strategic Importance: The Korean Idol

Despite knowing that the introduction of Lee Kang-in requires a huge investment, Atlético Madrid is still determined to go all out. This is due to:

• His undeniable quality: He is a game-changer whether playing out wide or in attacking midfield.
• Strategic importance: The player is a true icon in his home country and in the Asian market, and is extremely attractive to major brands and fans. He even sold more jerseys than Kylian Mbappé when they were teammates.

If Lee Kang-in's signing can be completed before August, he will undoubtedly create a wave of enthusiasm during Atlético Madrid's planned mini tour in South Korea. Unless his country fails to advance to the World Cup quarter-finals, he will have time to enjoy the three weeks off that participating teams are entitled to.

However, while it would be the icing on the cake, Atlético's ultimate aim is to get the PSG man to eventually join, whenever that is and regardless of whether he returns to his homeland.

Source: Marca