Simeone is waiting for an expensive gift from Paris Saint-Germain

Atletico Madrid’s dream of signing one of the Paris Saint-Germain stars appears to be closer than ever to a reality after the details that hindered the completion of the deal changed in the last winter transfer window.

There is believed to be cautious optimism in the corridors of the Spanish club over the possibility of finalizing a deal approaching €25m for South Korean Kang-In Lee from PSG, according to newspaper Marca.

Last January, Atletico Madrid faced Paris Saint-Germain’s adamant refusal to offload the player, despite Kang In Lee’s stated desire to move to the Spanish capital. However, the scene has changed significantly in recent months for several reasons.

The first of these reasons is that the player himself is increasingly convinced that embarking on a new experience may be the best option for his footballing future, given his fallout with the European champions. After playing just 12 minutes in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final against Liverpool, the player did not get extra minutes, which reinforced the need to change the atmosphere.

The player has also previously informed the management of PSG that he wants to study the proposals presented to him, provided that they correspond to the interests of all parties. In addition, coach Luis Enrique, who insisted on keeping the player mid-season, usually does not prefer to keep elements who are not convinced by his project or are unhappy with their position in the team, which made the current circumstances more suitable to push the negotiations forward.

Although Paris Saint-Germain are open to discussing the future of the player, who is tied to a contract extension until the summer of 2028, the club’s management, led by Nasser Al-Khelaifi, have no intention of giving up his services easily and are looking to get the best possible financial return. As is the case with most negotiations, the parties involved are starting from different positions, but there is growing belief that a final deal could be reached for around €25 million.

“Paris Saint-Germain” paid “Real Mallorca” about 22 million euros in the summer of 2023 to acquire the South Korean player. Since then, his market profile has been boosted by his presence in the ranks of the Champions League champions. Its current market value is around 28 million euros, after previously reaching 30 million euros.

However, the good relationship between Miguel Angel Gilles Marin and the Qatari owner of the Parisian club, as well as the player’s clear desire to wear the jersey of Atletico Madrid, give the Spanish club additional reasons to be optimistic that the deal can be completed for less than the price demanded by Paris Saint-Germain.

The importance of the potential deal is not limited to the technical aspects, as Atletico Madrid officials see Kang-In Lee as a key strategic asset on both sporting and commercial levels. From a technical point of view, the player will give coach Diego Simeone a clear attacking option thanks to his individual skills and ability to dribble and make a difference in the final third.

In terms of marketing, the player is considered one of the most popular sports stars in South Korea, which opens wide horizons for the club to strengthen its presence in the Asian market, attract more sponsors and commercial partners, as well as increase its popularity among Korean fans. Atletico Madrid therefore see the deal as both a sporting and marketing investment, and could turn into one of the summer’s most successful deals if it is completed for €25m.