Club World Cup champion Chelsea wants Kim Min-jae (29, Bayern Munich).
'Tutto Mercato' reported on the 17th, "European big clubs want to acquire South Korean national team defender Kim Min-jae. Chelsea is one of them. Chelsea already has several center-backs, but Kim Min-jae caught their eye."
Kim Min-jae's transfer rumors to big clubs are not new. In the Premier League alone, multiple clubs such as Liverpool, Manchester United, and Newcastle have shown interest in Kim Min-jae. AC Milan has also been active in Serie A, and Juventus has been mentioned.
Transfer rumors have even reached La Liga giant Barcelona. Most top teams among the world's best clubs have expressed interest in Kim Min-jae. If Kim moves to Barcelona, he would be the first South Korean player to play for the adult team of Barcelona. It would also be the first time a defender has played in La Liga.
Throughout his career, Kim Min-jae has not hesitated to play in new leagues. After stints with Jeonbuk Hyundai and Beijing Guoan, Kim made his European debut by joining Fenerbahçe in 2021. Equipped with physicality and sense that transcends Tongyang, Kim immediately dominated the Turkish stage.
Through Serie A, Kim Min-jae quickly rose to 'world-class' status. He joined Napoli in 2022 and led the team to its first Serie A title in 33 years. Kim was named the best defender in Serie A for the 22-23 season and was selected for the team of the year.
His performance in the Bundesliga was less impressive. Kim Min-jae joined Bayern Munich in 2023 to challenge himself in the Bundesliga. In his first season, Kim did not gain the trust of coach Thomas Tuchel and was pushed to the bench. During the 24-25 season, he solidified his position as a starter with full support from coach Vincent Kompany, contributing to Bayern's Bundesliga victory.
However, Kim made significant mistakes in crucial matches, including the Champions League, which heavily affected his evaluation. Bayern is considering not obstructing him if a good offer comes in.
'Tutto Mercato' explained, "Chelsea already has too many players. Levi Colwill, Trevo Chalobah, Wesley Fofana, Tosin Adarabioyo, and Mamadou Salifou are sufficient. They should not make the mistake of buying Kim Min-jae for fun. Chelsea has decided to sell Renato Veiga. Interestingly, Bayern Munich is keeping an eye on him. A swap deal with Kim Min-jae is also a possibility."
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