Jeong Sang-bin linked to MLS side Minnesota United

Jeong Sang-bin [GRASSHOPPER CLUB ZURICH]

Twenty-year-old Korean midfielder Jeong Sang-bin has been linked to Major League Soccer side Minnesota United, with multiple reports suggesting that the U.S. side is already in talks to acquire him before the transfer window closes next month.

Jeong, considered one of the top Korean prospects over the last few years, was signed last year by Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers and then immediately shipped off on loan to Grasshopper Club Zurich.

Since arriving in Zurich, Jeong has seen very mixed success, spending large parts of last season and this season out of the squad due to injury or parked on the bench. He has only made seven league appearances so far this season and failing to score.

Jeong's professional football career got off to a flying start in Korea’s K League in 2021. He made his senior debut with the Suwon Samsung Bluewings that year, scoring six goals and picking up two assists in 28 matches. He was called up to both the U-23 and senior national teams, scoring in his Taeguk Warriors debut in a World Cup qualifier against Sri Lanka.

Jeong is one of a number of clubs to be linked to Minnesota United over the last few months. The club was reportedly in pursuit of Qatar World Cup star Cho Gue-sung in January, but failed to persuade the young striker who ended up staying with K League side Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors.

Minnesota was then also linked to Nottingham Forest’s Hwang Ui-jo, who’s loan to Olympiacos came to an end in January. Forest eventually accepted an offer from K League side FC Seoul, sending Hwang back to Korea on loan rather than to the United States.

Undeterred, Minnesota have reportedly now set their sights on Jeong, who may be a more realistic prospect as his playing time with Zurich has been limited. Whether the MLS club are looking to take over a loan deal from Wolves or sign Jeong outright remains unclear.

With the MLS season just started, clubs are keen to patch up any obvious holes in their system before the transfer window for the league closes at the end of April. Although the European transfer window is already closed, that does not prevent players from signing with teams outside of Europe.

Minnesota currently sit in fifth place in the MLS’s Western Conference with one win in one game played as of press time Wednesday.

BY JIM BULLEY [jim.bulley@joongang.co.kr]