EXCLUSIVE – Napoli’s Third Attempt for Lee Kang-in Gathers Pace as Premier League Clubs Monitor Situation

Corriere dello Sport reveals Napoli’s renewed push for the South Korean playmaker, while Football-Asian.com sources clarify Premier League clubs’ interest and the player’s desire to find regular football.

Napoli have intensified their pursuit of PSG’s Lee Kang-in, with their sporting director Giovanni Manna taking decisive steps to secure the South Korean international. According to today’s edition of Corriere dello Sport, Napoli’s interest has moved beyond preliminary discussions, with direct contact made on Monday confirming the club’s intentions to bring Lee to the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.

Antonio Conte is said to be an admirer of the versatile 23-year-old, who can operate as an attacking midfielder or a more advanced playmaker, offering both goals and assists. Napoli see Lee as a key target to bolster their creative options, and Corriere dello Sport reports that the club led by president Aurelio De Laurentiis has officially informed PSG of their interest.

“The first real approach has now taken place for Lee Kang-in, the South Korean playmaker at PSG — a versatile player who can operate between the lines and add goals and assists,” the Roman daily wrote. “The European champions have been formally informed of Napoli’s interest and are now considering the situation.”

The report further highlights Napoli’s previous failed attempts to land Lee in the summer of 2024 and again in January. “Both last summer and in January, PSG refused to discuss him as part of the Kvara negotiations,” Corriere dello Sport explained. “But now the situation may be changing, especially as the player himself is seeking more playing time than he had in the season just concluded: roughly half of the total minutes — and not a single second in the Champions League final won against Inter.”

Football-Asian.com sources confirm that while several Premier League clubs have placed Lee on their scouting lists, he is not currently a priority target. In March, his agent Javier Garrido received expressions of interest from English clubs, but no formal approaches or offers have yet materialised.

Napoli, on the other hand, have directly communicated their intent to sign the player. PSG, for their part, remain open to a sale but insist that any deal must reflect an appropriate valuation.

Lee himself is understood to be eager for a move where he can secure regular playing time, though he has no complaints regarding his current role at PSG. Despite being used sparingly in key matches — partly due to injury setbacks and the outstanding performances of teammates like Désiré Doué, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and João Neves — Lee respects Luis Enrique’s decisions and maintains a professional attitude within the squad.

The player’s immediate future remains complex. Lee is scheduled to join PSG’s squad in the United States for the Club World Cup following his national team commitments, Football-Asian.com can confirm. However, should Napoli finalise a deal beforehand, he could skip that trip.

Whether Napoli can move quickly enough remains uncertain, but their third approach appears to have a genuine chance of success this time around. Meanwhile, several Premier League clubs are prepared to step up their interest in Lee if they fail to land their primary transfer targets or if key departures occur in their squads.

Lee’s next move will hinge on whether he opts to seize Napoli’s offer now or waits to assess his situation further after the Club World Cup. One thing is certain: the versatile playmaker remains committed to finding the right environment to continue his development and maximise his playing time.

In any case, Lee Kang-in’s future is set to be one of the most intriguing storylines of the summer transfer window — with Napoli and PSG at the heart of the drama.