Kim Min-jae of Bayern Munich touches his face during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg match between Bayern Munich and Atalanta in Munich, March 18. EPA-Yonhap
This is going to be a big summer for some of Korea’s biggest and best football stars. And, for a change, this is not about Son Heung-min or the World Cup, though it is connected to that tournament.
Lee Kang-in, Kim Min-jae and Hwang Hee-chan face an uncertain future at their clubs in France, Germany and England, respectively. All three may find themselves somewhere else next season.
Hwang’s situation is the most serious but also the clearest. The forward's team has been relegated from the English Premier League. It has, for months, been obvious that Wolverhampton Wanderers was heading into the second tier but now, it is official. Amid injuries this season, Hwang has scored just twice in a miserable few months.
While his contract may run until June 2028, it is likely that the club will want to renew its roster and reduce salary costs. At the age of 30, Hwang is going to have to prove his fitness before moving elsewhere. It remains to be seen where he goes, but an exit from England seems likely. His time with the Wolves hit its height in the 2023-24 season when he scored 12 goals. With the club consistently selling its best players and his injury problems, it has ended in the way nobody would have wanted — relegation.
In France, fans witnessed a different level of football as the world breathlessly watched Paris Saint-German defeat Bayern Munich 5-4, in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League semifinal. It was a display of thrilling, high-quality football by some of the best players in the world. Unfortunately, Lee and Kim watched with the rest of us, sitting on the bench as unused substitutes.
That has been the case for much of the season. It is a matter of pride that Lee and Kim belong to two of the biggest and best clubs in the world. Paris is the defending champion and it is almost sad that these two titans are not playing in the finals. While not an automatic starter, Lee still participates in the French league, where Paris usually nominates. However, he does not often start in the big games, especially in Europe. It is unfortunate that the 25-year-old is close to the top but will need to move in order to reach his full potential.
Kim is older, turning 30 later this year, and is in a similar position with Bayern Munich. The center-back has won the title in Germany and Italy but, again, does not make the field as often as he and his fans back in Korea would like. According to reports, the German club is starting to open up to the idea of allowing the man nicknamed “Monster” to go. A move back to Italy, where he was named the best defender in the 2022-23 season, could be on the cards.
Ultimately, all three could be on the move. Deals could be done before the World Cup, or interest could be generated during the tournament due to fine performances, but either way, things are about to change.
Source: Korea Times News
