Lee Kang-In has long been regarded as a top talent. His sensational performances at the 2019 Under-20 World Cup, which earned him the FIFA Golden Ball, alerted the world to his potential. Mallorca lucked out in acquiring him for free from the perennially poorly run Valencia, gave him a platform, and he was soon scooped up by Paris Saint-Germain for around €22m in 2023.
But as is often the case when a young player moves to one of Europe’s elite, a prominent role has been hard to earn — who could blame him for failing to displace the likes of Vitinha, Ousmane Dembélé or Désiré Doué in this form? — but he’s done well to eclipse 2,000 minutes in each of his two seasons in Paris.
Over those minutes, he’s played a remarkable variety of roles: No. 8, attacking midfielder, winger and even false No. 9 striker. That versatility has been both a boon and a curse, as while it’s opened up opportunities for him to play, it’s also prevented him from nailing down his spot in this XI.
That kind of versatility would be interesting to an Arsenal side looking to add depth to their wing corps, especially if Bukayo Saka is unavailable, and also lessen the creative burden on Martin Ødegaard. It’s perhaps no coincidence that, much like the Arsenal captain, Lee is also a clever, creative, left-footer, and a strong set piece taker too.
OTHER RUMORS
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– The release clause in Benjamin Sesko‘s RB Leipzig contract is now €80m “due to his performances and flexibility within the contract.” However, the Bundesliga club may be ready to negotiate a fee for the in-demand striker below that figure. (Florian Plettenberg)
– Liverpool forward Federico Chiesa, who has made only five Premier League appearances this season, is wanted by AC Milan and Napoli — although the 27-year-old would also be prepared to stay at Anfield and show be has more to offer. (Calciomercato)
– Real Betis president Angel Haro believes his club will need to be creative to find a way to keep Antony beyond this summer. The 25-year-old has been a huge hit in Spain following his loan move from Manchester United. The loan did not include an option for the Spanish club to automatically make his stay permanent. (Estadio Deportivo)
– Aston Villa will do “everything they can” to keep Morgan Rogers amid fresh interest from Chelsea. The 22-year-old is under contract at Villa until June 2030, meaning Chelsea would have to offer a sizable transfer fee. Manchester City, whose academy he graduated from, are also keeping tabs on the England international. (Football Insider)
– Real Madrid’s third-choice goalkeeper Fran Gonzalez, 19, could move on as he is unable to break into the first XI. (Relevo)
– Barcelona could replace goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, 33, with Espanyol’s Joan Garcia, 23, in the summer for around €30m. (El Nacional)
– Borussia Dortmund will sign left-back Daniel Svensson permanently from FC Nordsjaelland once his loan expires for €7.5m (Bild)
– Augsburg midfielder Juan Cabrera is on the verge of joining Greuther Fürth on a free transfer. The 22-year-old’s deal expires at the end of the season. (Sky Sport Deutschland)
– Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, Brighton and Crystal Palace are closely monitoring Jobe Bellingham‘s situation at Sunderland. The 19-year-old’s future could hinge upon how Sunderland perform in the Championship playoffs and, should the Black Cats fail to secure promotion to the Premier League, their star midfielder may be on the move this summer. (Ekrem Konur)
– Galatasaray are trying to bring right-back Sacha Boey back to the club from Bayern Munich this summer. (Arma Sports)
