(By Kwon Dong-hwan, Exodus Sports News) South Korean defensive future Kim Ji-su (19-Seongnam FC) has been recommended to Premier League giants Liverpool by local media in England.
“Kim Ji-soo, one of the top talents in the Korean national team, could be an ideal target for Liverpool,” Liverpool.com, a local newspaper in Liverpool, reported on June 6 (KST).
Born in 2004, Kim Ji-soo, a defender from the Seongnam youth team, is currently making waves in the K League.
At a young age, Kim, who stands at 6-foot-2, has steadily progressed through the age groups and is currently a member of the U-20 national team, which is competing at the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup.
The South Korean U-20 team, led by Kim Eun-jung, advanced to the semifinals of the tournament with a 1-0 victory over Nigeria in extra time on May 5 after upsetting host Argentina in the quarterfinals.
At the tournament, South Korea stunned soccer fans around the world with their performance, which was no match for soccer powerhouses like France and Ecuador.
Kim Eun-Joong-Ho’s performance at the World Cup has also attracted attention in the UK, with Liverpool.com spotlighting Kim Ji-Soo, a key defender for the South Korean U-20 team.
“Over the years, the U-20 World Cup has produced some of the biggest stars,” the publication explained.
“The last edition in Poland in 2019 saw Darwin Nunes (Liverpool) and Elling Holland (Manchester City) stand out in front of fans around the world, while the likes of Lionel Messi (PSG) and Diego Maradona have also made their mark at the tournament.”
Lee Kang-in (RCD Mallorca), who has been touted as one of La Liga’s best playmakers this season and has been linked with a move away, rose to stardom at the 2019 U-20 World Cup, where he led South Korea to a runner-up finish and won the Golden Ball.
“At just 19 years old, Kim Ji-soo has played in every game of the tournament so far and has impressed with her composure on the ball and ability to read the game,” the media said of the youngster.
“A tall defender who is strong on aerial balls, Kim Ji-soo has already played 19 games in South Korea’s top division, the K League 1, at such a young age, and there is no doubt that she will be moving on to a new environment at the end of the tournament,” they speculated.
“Signing a young defender like Kim Ji-Soo is a perfect fit for Liverpool,” he concluded. “Liverpool defender Joe Gomes is struggling with injuries and 32-year-old Joel Matip has one year left on his contract. Kim Ji-Soo is an ideal option for Liverpool.”
“We don’t expect Kim to make an immediate impact upon arrival,” the outlet admitted, “He’s more likely to play a supporting role as a younger successor to Matip, and may even go out on loan to get a work visa.”
“Over time, he has the potential to be 메이저놀이터 a great option for Liverpool and could even start at Anfield (Liverpool’s home ground) in the future,” he said.
“Like Darwin Nunes, Kim Ji-Soo could be a player that Liverpool can only afford to pay a lot of money for in the future,” he added, emphasizing that the Reds need to move now before he moves to another European club and his price tag rises.
Liverpool spent a staggering €75 million (approximately $104.4 billion) to bring in Uruguayan striker Nunes last summer. If Kim Ji-Soo is a player with a guaranteed future, now is the time for him to be cheapest.
“We’ll have to wait and see if he becomes the Holland of center backs, but he’s thriving on the high-profile trial stage,” he concluded, expressing high hopes for Kim’s future.
Liverpool is a world-renowned club that represents the Premier League and has a huge fan base in Korea.
It will be interesting to see if the Reds try to get a head start on Kim, who could be a world-class defender in the future.
