Arsenal eye Bayern's Kim Min-jae as Saliba injury deepens defensive crisis

Arsenal are tracking Bayern Munich defender Kim Min-jae as a potential January signing, with the South Korean international emerging as a target while William Saliba remains sidelined through injury.

According to CFBayernInsider, Kim is on Arsenal’s list of defensive targets and has been discussed internally at the club. The report notes that Arsenal’s head of scouting Maurizio Micheli has a prior connection with the 29-year-old, having signed him from Fenerbahce for Napoli back in 2022. Kim joined Bayern in 2023 and is contracted until 2028, but has slipped to third in the club’s centre-back pecking order behind Dayot Upamecano and Jonathan Tah, making just six appearances in all competitions this season — two of them starts in the Bundesliga.

The interest comes as Mikel Arteta’s side contend with a growing list of defensive absentees. Saliba has yet to feature this season after sustaining a back problem during the World Cup, with Cristhian Mosquera and summer signing Ezri Konsa filling in. The injury list has since lengthened, with midfielder Martin Zubimendi and full-back Piero Hincapie both picking up ankle problems during a cool-down session following last week’s win over Leeds. Christos Tzolis is also sidelined.

Saliba’s absence from Arsenal’s official 2026/27 squad photo, taken at the Sobha Realty Training Centre on Wednesday, prompted a swift statement from the club. Shortly after posting the image on social media, Arsenal clarified: “Due to a medical appointment, William Saliba was not available this afternoon.” Arteta has been guarded on a return date for the centre-back, who has since resumed individual training.

Arsenal face Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on Sunday, with Arteta’s side looking to apply pressure on league leaders Manchester City in the title race.