Tottenham Hotspur target Kim Min-jae has claimed he’s ‘disturbed’ by rumours linking him with a move away from Napoli.
Kim has been a colossus at centre-back for the Serie A leaders this season, and with South Korea at the World Cup, rumours are already linking him with a move away just six months after arriving in Naples.
During the World Cup, reports claimed that Spurs are one of the teams looking at Kim, who is thought to have a release clause of at least €40m (£35m) in his contract which can be triggered in the first half of July 2023.
The 26-year-old arrived in the summer for €18.1m (£15.6m) from Fenerbahce, which has proved a complete bargain with Napoli currently top of Serie A and into the knockout stages of the Champions League.
As is usually the case with emerging talents, top English clubs are often linked with them, but Kim has now distanced himself from an exit, saying on Korean TV (via Calciomercato):
“There are a lot of market stories around me, but it’s only been six months to Napoli. I avoided interviews and one of the reasons is that the rumours about me disturb me.”
TIF Thoughts on Kim’s comments…
Unsurprisingly, the Korean is enjoying life in Italy with their form on the pitch scintillating as they chase down a Scudetto, with the Partenopei holding an eight-point lead over Milan having remained unbeaten so far in Serie A.
A move to the Premier League could easily be around the corner if Kim wants it, especially if Spurs trigger his reported release clause in the summer.
We think he’d be a monster edition for Conte, with the 26-year-old making 0.07 errors that led to an opposition shot per game, whilst making 2.71 tackles and interceptions per 90, so he’s exactly the kind of dominating and assured presence Tottenham need at the back.