Everton are ready to rival Tottenham Hotspur in the race to sign Fenerbahce defender Kim Min-jae, who has a release clause of €23 million.
According to a report from Fanatik, Tottenham Hotspur are serious about signing Kim Min-jae this summer. The club’s scouts have recently followed the defender’s performance in the Galatasaray derby, where his good performance has left Antonio Conte extremely impressed. The Spurs coach has now given the green light to pursue the defender.
The Lilywhites, though, aren’t the only club interested in the services of Kim. He is also courted by fellow Premier League outfit Everton, while Italian giants Napoli have been serious about the acquisition as well. Aware of the interest, Fenerbahce are not expected to listen to offers of anything below the €23 million mark, which is the value of the defender’s release clause.
Formerly of Beijing Guoan, Kin Min-jae moved to Europe last summer, joining Fenerbahce in a deal worth €3 million. It has turned out to be a bargain for the Turkish giants as the centre-back has performed extraordinarily well in his maiden season in the Super Lig.
With 29 league appearances, he has become an ever-present figure in Fener’s defensive line, impressing the onlookers with his imposing 1.90m frame, coupled with his no-nonsense defensive philosophy.
Kim’s success has not gone unnoticed, with Everton becoming the latest club to register interest in the South Korean international. The Toffees are said to be in the market for defensive reinforcements in the summer, as new coach Frank Lampard looks to add some real quality at the back.
Everton have been linked with a move for Gleison Bremer, but they are facing stiff competition from other clubs in the race to sign the Torino centre-back. Kim Min-jae, in that regard, could be a much more realistic target, although Tottenham Hotspur are believed to be ahead in the race.
The Lilywhites, after all, are offering the 25-year-old the prospect of playing alongside his national teammate Son Heung-Min. Conte’s defence-oriented philosophy is also much more likely to cater to Kim’s style of play, making him a tactically compatible option for the north London giants.
A fee of just €23 million is quite reasonable as well, for a player who has shown immense talent in the Super Lig so far. So it is only a matter of time before the South Korean international makes the jump to a bigger league in the summer.
