Arsenal target Kim Min-jae in January as Saliba and Hincapie injuries bite

Arsenal are considering a January move for Bayern Munich centre-back Kim Min-jae as injuries to William Saliba and Piero Hincapie leave Mikel Arteta short of options at the back. The South Korean has fallen out of favour at the Allianz Arena, and Bayern are reportedly open to selling him this winter.

Saliba has not featured at all this season after picking up an injury at the World Cup, while Hincapie is expected to miss several weeks with an ankle problem. Those absences have prompted the Premier League champions to scan the market despite the depth already available in their squad.

Arsènal’s interest is said to be driven by Maurizio Micheli, the club’s head of scouting, who previously worked with Kim during the defender’s time at Napoli. That personal connection gives the Gunners a potential edge in any pursuit, according to German outlet Bild, which first reported Kim’s imminent departure from Bayern.

Kim joined Bayern from Napoli for £43.5 million in 2023, a fee that made him the most expensive Asian footballer in history at the time. He has made 122 appearances for the Bavarians and collected multiple honours, but a combination of injury setbacks and fierce competition for places has reduced him to just two Bundesliga starts this season. Vincent Kompany currently prefers Dayot Upamecano and Jonathan Tah at centre-back, leaving Kim on the periphery.

Bayern are said to be willing to raise funds through player sales this winter, with Alphonso Davies another name linked with an exit from the German champions.

Arteta does have cover available. Ezri Konsa arrived from Aston Villa in the summer and can operate across several defensive positions, while Ben White and Jurrien Timber offer versatility whether deployed centrally or on the flanks. Even so, the Arsenal manager is keen to strengthen further in January.

The Gunners are bidding to retain their Premier League title while also mounting a serious push in the Champions League, having suffered a heartbreaking final defeat last season.