PSG set to sign Kang-in Lee from Mallorca

PSG have been actively pursuing new recruits during the start of the month and their latest target might be on the verge of arriving in Paris: Kang-in Lee, an attacking midfielder from Mallorca, came out of the blue and will become the fourth Parisian signing of the summer.

The French club has reportedly reached a full verbal agreement with Lee for a long-term contract, although the contract duration has not been disclosed.

The South Korean midfielder has already completed most of his medical examinations ahead of the transfer to PSG, but there are still some details to be worked out with Mallorca regarding the structure of the deal.

According to Le Parisien, though, the transfer is said to be 99.9% complete, with PSG reportedly paying just over €20m to buy out the remaining two years of Lee's contract at Mallorca.

Amidst the ongoing speculation surrounding Kylian Mbappe's future following his letter of intent to not extend his presence in Paris past 2024 at this point, PSG seems to have made significant progress in securing the signing of Kang-in Lee to strengthen their attacking third.

Kang-in Lee's trajectory as a player began in South Korea before he joined Valencia's training center at the age of 10. He gradually progressed through the club's youth ranks, eventually making his professional debut in Oct. 2018.

Lee later joined the Valencia senior squad and played in both European competitions, the Europa League and the Champions League. He has also represented his national team, South Korea, in the Olympics and the World Cup qualifiers.

Recruiting a young player from a lower-ranked Spanish club entails some risk, but PSG seems willing to take the gamble on this one for a relatively low fee. That said, it's still going to be a hefty sum for a player clearly unproven at the highest of stages, which has raised questions about whether the investment would be better spent on a more established and higher-caliber player.

Other European clubs, including Real Madrid and Manchester United, have also shown interest in Lee recently, perhaps making this transfer a bit more sensical.

Korean regulations require all Korean men to complete mandatory military service before their 30th birthday, which Lee has not gone through yet. This could potentially impact Lee's availability for a year and a half unless he shortens his military service through achievements such as winning a medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, the 2023 Asian Games, or the 2024 Asian Cup.

Ultimately, the success of this transfer will be determined by Lee's performance on the field, though it's obvious that eventually flipping Mbappe for the South Korean is a clear downgrade and not the news PSG fans across the world wanted to hear.