Atletico Madrid and Aston Villa, both in La Liga and the Premier League, want Lee Kang-in, the future and present of South Korea.
His current club, Mallorca, is open to negotiating a lower price than his buyout clause, which allows a player to be transferred without negotiation if a set amount is paid.
Valencian newspaper Superdeporte reported on Tuesday (Aug. 30) that “Lee Kang-in has been linked to Atletico Madrid” and that Mallorca is negotiating for less than the buyout.
“In his second season at Mallorca, Lee has become one of the main resources and his name is known all over Europe,” the publication said.
Under Javier Aguirre, Lee has developed into an attacking midfielder who can also play on the flanks. His increased muscle mass has certainly added to his speed, and he’s also improved his defense, which has been lacking in the past.
As a result, Lee is enjoying a career-high season in 2022/23 with six goals and five assists in 35 La Liga appearances.
A number of big clubs have expressed interest in Lee, with Atletico Madrid leading the pack in La Liga. However, there is competition from the Premier League, with Unai Emery, who led Aston Villa to the Europa League last season, also wanting him.
The media reported, “Lee’s buyout clause is €30 million. Nevertheless, Mallorca would be willing to sell him for a transfer fee of just €20 million ($28.3 billion).”
Atletico’s interest in Lee is not only based on his ability, but also on the fact that he would be a good fit for the Asian market. According to Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, “Lee will be the replacement for Saul Niguez”.
A move to Aston Villa is also being considered. Emery’s first full season in charge of the club will be next season after a successful second stint in the Premier League 먹튀검증.
The Egyptian capital club are flush with cash and could be tempted to make a move for Lee.
According to the Premier League’s 2022/23 revenues for each club, which were released by the Mirror on April 29, Villa earned a whopping £158 million ($258.3 billion). That’s more than six times the buyout price for Lee.