---
title: "Tottenham Hotspur: Kim Min-jae is of ‘big interest’ to Spurs as news emerges"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/tottenham-kim-min-jae-transfer-interest-levy-mourinho/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Thomas Ward"
section: "Opinion"
published: "2020-07-25T07:30:36Z"
modified: "2020-07-25T07:30:36Z"
---

# Tottenham Hotspur: Kim Min-jae is of ‘big interest’ to Spurs as news emerges

**It is no secret that Tottenham Hotspur are in the market for a central defender to replace Jan Vertonghen, who looks set to leave when his deal expires on [Sunday](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-8555015/Tottenham-assure-Jose-Mourinho-key-men-NOT-sold-despite-impact-Covid-19-club.html).**

The Lilywhites have leaked goals for fun this season, as they have conceded more goals than Manchester United, Sheffield United and [Premier League](https://www.premierleague.com/stats/top/clubs/goals_conceded) champions Liverpool so far.

According to the [Daily Mail](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-8555015/Tottenham-assure-Jose-Mourinho-key-men-NOT-sold-despite-impact-Covid-19-club.html), Beijing Guoan defender Kim Min-jae is of ‘big interest’ to Spurs. Tottenham have been linked with Kim for a while now, as [recent reports](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/tottenham-transfer-rumours/tottenham-hotspur-spurs-keen-to-sign-kim-min-jae-amid-interest-from-liverpool-as-beijing-name-their-price/) revealed that the Chinese club have now named their asking price.

The [Evening Standard](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/tottenham-transfer-rumours/tottenham-hotspur-spurs-keen-to-sign-kim-min-jae-amid-interest-from-liverpool-as-beijing-name-their-price/) claimed that Daniel Levy will have to pay at least £15m if he wants to prise him away from the Chinese Super League. Kim has been touted to leave China in the summer, amid interest from [Liverpool](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/tottenham-transfer-rumours/tottenham-confident-kim-min-jae-deal-transfer-latest/).

![](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/THE-BREAKDOWN.png)

Talks between the two sides are still ongoing, as [Spurs](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/tottenham-transfer-rumours/tottenham-hotspur-spurs-keen-to-sign-kim-min-jae-amid-interest-from-liverpool-as-beijing-name-their-price/) are confident that they can get a deal completed in a matter of weeks.

While there had been concerns that the north London club would have to let key players leave this summer, [Levy has told Jose Mourinho](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-8555015/Tottenham-assure-Jose-Mourinho-key-men-NOT-sold-despite-impact-Covid-19-club.html) that they will not be sold in the transfer window. Clubs are operating in unprecedented circumstances but [the Spurs chairman](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-8555015/Tottenham-assure-Jose-Mourinho-key-men-NOT-sold-despite-impact-Covid-19-club.html) will back his manager in the market to make the improvements that he needs before the start of next season.

[\[freshpress-poll id=”311088″\]](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/[freshpress-poll%20id=%22311088%22])

[Vertonghen](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/tottenham-transfer-rumours/tottenham-hotspur-spurs-keen-to-sign-kim-min-jae-amid-interest-from-liverpool-as-beijing-name-their-price/) is seemingly set to make a shock switch to Manchester City, while questions remain over [Juan Foyth’s future](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/tottenham-transfer-rumours/tottenham-hotspur-spurs-keen-to-sign-kim-min-jae-amid-interest-from-liverpool-as-beijing-name-their-price/) at the club.

Kim, who is nicknamed [‘Monster’](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/tottenham-transfer-rumours/tottenham-hotspur-spurs-set-to-sign-kim-min-jae-as-he-heads-to-north-london/), has earned [30 caps](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/min-jae-kim/profil/spieler/503482) for his country, receiving a gold medal at the 2018 Asian Games for his efforts, which gave him certain military privileges as a result (via [The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/sep/01/son-heung-min-spared-military-service-south-korea-asian-games-gold)).

![](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Verdict.png)

The South Korean is an imposing figure at the heart of any defence, standing at [1.9m](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/min-jae-kim/profil/spieler/503482) in height, so it is easy to understand why Mourinho wants to sign the 23-year-old in the summer.

Mourinho wanted to bring [Harry Maguire](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/jul/22/jose-mourinho-manchester-united-improve-harry-maguire) to Old Trafford during his time in charge of Manchester United and, while that move failed to materialise, Kim shares similar physical attributes.

At a mere £15m, he should be more than affordable for Spurs, but that price may be bumped up if a transfer battle ensues in the summer.

***Tottenham fans, should Daniel Levy sign Kim in the summer? Let us know in the comments below!***