Concerns have emerged in Germany that Bayern Munich's defensive reinforcement to replace Kim Min-jae (29) could end up being counterproductive. With Munich recently acquiring German national team defender Jonathan Tah (28) and putting Kim Min-jae on the transfer market, there are analyses suggesting that this choice could be a misjudgment.
On the 23rd (Korean time), RAN warned, "If Bayern Munich lets Kim Min-jae go, it could lead to instability in the defensive organization rather than a boost in strength." Additionally, it added, "Tah is not a superior alternative to Kim Min-jae and could pose burdens that go beyond a simple replacement."
RAN compared the play styles and data of the two players from various angles. As a result, it was analyzed that Kim Min-jae showed a clear edge in agility, acceleration, and ground duels, and his tactical adaptability is also considered to be more suitable.
Kim Min-jae recorded a top speed of 33.75 km/h last season, while Tah lagged slightly behind at 33.09 km/h. Although the difference in numbers may not seem large, a greater gap can occur in actual play.
RAN explained, "Kim Min-jae excels in reaching top speed in a short time, and his responsiveness in changing direction and reacting over short distances is faster than Tah's."
The difference was also clear in ground ball duels. Kim Min-jae recorded a duel success rate of 51%, higher than Tah's 44%, and the total number of duels was more than double that of Tah, leading to evaluations that he excels in both activity and physical ability.
The most notable aspect is tactical suitability. RAN analyzed, "Kim Min-jae has the agility and power to cover defensive spaces in the high-line tactics conceived by Coach Kompany," adding that he is "a defender who can perform in an aggressive four-back structure." In contrast, it remains uncertain whether Tah, who showed stability in a three-back system during his time at Bayer Leverkusen, can adapt properly within the Kompany system.
RAN also pointed out that Kim Min-jae's performance has been somewhat shaky recently. However, it evaluated, "Kim Min-jae has been insisting on playing even in an injured state over the past six months. If he recovers to normal condition, he can still demonstrate a contribution at the top level within the team."
It also cautioned that there is no assurance that Tah is better than Kim Min-jae, saying, "If Bayern Munich sells Kim Min-jae, it could end up undermining the balance of their defense."
Currently, Kim Min-jae is attracting interest from multiple big clubs, including Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in France, Napoli, and AC Milan in Italy. There are forecasts that how Bayern Munich handles Kim Min-jae in the summer transfer market could significantly alter the flow of the European defender market.
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