Napoli are set to face an uphill battle to keep their star defender, South Korea International Kim Min-jae who has been targeted by the heavy hitters of the Premier League for a summer move.
Napoli signed the South Korean centre back from Turkish side Fenerbahçe in the summer for £16 million as a replacement for Kalidou Koulibaly, who moved to Chelsea in the summer. The defender has gone on to be a hit in the Diego Armando Maradona stadium and is now a fan favourite and one of the best centrebacks in the Italian Serie A.
His talents have led Napoli manager, Luciano Spaletti, to label him the best in the world.
“Kim does at least 20 incredible things per game,” Spalletti previously told DAZN. “For me, he truly is the best centre-back in the world. When he starts to run, he can get into the opposition penalty area in five seconds flat.”
Big sides have taken note of his abilities and are now plotting to take him off the Partenopei’s hands.
Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool are the clubs said to be interested in the 6 foot 3 inches centre back and all are preparing huge bids for his services. Spurs are understood to have held the longest interest in him even before he moved from Fenerbahçe to Napoli. The club under the management of José Mourinho had once tried to secure his services, reports claim.
“I can tell you a story about one of their players,” the Portuguese manager said recently in a chat with the press as AS Roma manager. “I spoke to Kim on FaceTime and wanted to buy him at Tottenham, but Tottenham didn’t help me.”
Playing and impressing in the Serie A and on the UEFA Champions League stage has now convinced Daniel Levy and co, who are preparing to make a move for the former Fenerbahçe man.
They are also believed to hold the upper hand in getting him to move from Napoli thanks to the presence of Son Heung-Min, Min-jae’s captain at international level for South Korea.
There has also been reported interest from Paris Saint-Germain and Napoli are on the verge of tying the South Korean to a longer contract, with the first step being to have his £40 million release clause removed.
However, the centre back is understood to be interested in playing in the Premier League and could be swayed to move when the offers start coming.
