Everton, Tottenham table offers for Kim Min-jae

Premier League clubs Everton and Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly lodged offers for Fenerbahce centre-back Kim Min-jae, valued at around €20 million.

According to Turkish outlet Sabah Spor, the Premier League duo of Everton and Tottenham Hotspur have made an official approach for Fenerbahce defender Kim Min-jae. The two English clubs are in the market for a centre-back and have identified the South Korea international as a possible signing.

Kim made his foray into European football with Fenerbahce, joining them in a €3 million deal from Chinese outfit Beijing Guoan last summer. He instantly slotted into the Turkish side’s defence, making 40 appearances for them across competitions this past season. He missed the last four league matches due to a foot injury.

A slow finish did not take away anything from his impressive performances for Fenerbahce, and he is thus attracting interest from England. The report claims that even though Kim joined last summer, the club could sell him to add to their transfer budget as they prepare for the next season.

Tottenham and Everton, both of whom are willing to add reinforcements to their defensive setup, have made put in their offers for the 25-year-old. The report claims that Kim could cost €20 million as per a release clause in his contract with Fenerbahce. Beijing Guoan will receive 15% of the defender’s sale, but the player is yet to make a decision on his future.

Both the clubs have had contrasting fortunes this season. While Tottenham saw a second-half resurgence take them to a fourth-place finish in the league this season, the Toffees narrowly avoided relegation, and manager Frank Lampard has a big task on his hands to strengthen his side ahead of the 2022/23 season.

Conte, on the other hand, will now want Tottenham to challenge for trophies, and the Tottenham board is set to sanction a sizeable war chest for his to use in the upcoming summer window. Inter Milan’s Alessandro Bastoni is said to be their first-choice centre-back target, but the Italian international is hesitant to join Spurs.

Kim could be a good addition to the Tottenham lineup, but with just one season of European football under his belt, there are question marks over his ability to be the first-choice defender at a top-four Premier League club. However, Everton could be a solid destination for the South Korean defender.