Tottenham regret missing out on Napoli star Kim Min-jae, fueling the idea of a future approach for the South Korean.
According to 90min, Tottenham regret missing out on signing Kim Min-jae back in 2020. The north Londoners were also interested in the Serie A-based defender during the summer, only for Napoli to sign him instead.
Tottenham had a busy summer transfer window, signing several high-profile players to bolster their squad. Chief among those were Richarlison, Yves Bissouma and Ivan Perisic, who arrived on a free transfer. Antonio Conte wanted to shore up his backline by signing at least one reliable central defender.
After pursuing several top names, Tottenham settled to sign Clement Lenglet on loan from Barcelona. The Frenchman could earn a permanent move if his performances warrant it, but Ben Davies is ahead in the pecking order as things stand.
If Lenglet returns to Barcelona, Tottenham could dip into the market next summer for another dependable name, with Napoli’s Kim Min-jae a well-known target. Spurs were keen on the South Korean in 2020 but decided against investing more than a reported sum of £10 million at that time.
They also consulted star attacker Son Heung-min. And despite his glowing recommendations, the north Londoners took another route. A year later, Kim Min-kae signed for Fenerbahce, and Napoli snapped him up this past summer.
Spurs and Everton were keen on signing the Serie A defender, but Napoli could sell a more exciting project to the South Korean. The move has benefitted all parties, as Kim has taken to life in Naples rather brilliantly. He has played a key part under Luciano Spalletti, helping Napoli remain unbeaten in all competitions.
Kim caught the eye with a starring role in Napoli’s 4-1 win over Liverpool in the Champions League group stage. If he continues with such performances, many top teams will surely queue up for his signature next summer.
Tottenham regret missing out on the defender, although there is every chance they might reignite their interest. While a January move is effectively ruled out, the next possibility could be next summer.
Playing in the Champions League next season would boost their chances of attracting names like Kim. And going by current standards and Conte’s presence, a move could happen in the future for the Serie A defender.
