An advisor to Kim Min-jae has revealed that the centre-back rejected Tottenham’s advances in favour of a move to Napoli this summer.
Kim was linked with a move to Tottenham during the summer transfer window, with reports even indicating back in July that the centre-back was hopeful of completing a switch to the North London club (Arena Napoli).
However, it was Napoli who won the race for the South Korean, while the only addition Spurs made in central defence was the signing of Clement Lenglet on loan from Barcelona, with both Davinson Sanchez and Japhet Tanganga staying put at the Premier League club.
Kim has enjoyed a fantastic start to his time at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium, having already established himself as a regular in Luciano Spalletti’s starting eleven.
The 25-year-old has not only added more defensively solidity to Napoli, who currently sit at the top of the Serie A table, but he has also pitched in with two goals at the other end (Transfermarkt).
Ho Lee, who is described as ‘close collaborator’ to Kim, has now revealed that several European clubs tried to the defender this summer.
He told Calcio Napoli 24: “Inter, Juventus, Tottenham, Rennes and Roma have tried to sign Kim, and many clubs have held meetings on video, but we wanted Kim to be able to play in a good team with a certain continuity, and that team was Napoli.”
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Spurs Web Opinion
One can argue that the only position where Spurs currently lack cover is in the central sweeper role, with no natural replacement for Eric Dier in the squad.
Kim would have been a good fit for that role and could have also covered at right centre-back. I suspect that if Conte wants to rest Dier, he will likely move Lenglet to the middle and play Ben Davies at left centre-back.
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