Liverpool and Chelsea are said to be eyeing the signature of Bayern Munich center defender Kim Min-jae, and the South Korean can be signed for €35 million. The 28-year-old defender joined Bayern from Napoli during the summer of 2023 in a €50 million deal, but has not been able to replicate his previous levels on the Bundesliga stage.
Kim’s stint has been characterized by inconsistency and injury, which has seen him slide in his role under Vincent Kompany and previously Thomas Tuchel. The Bavarians’ willingness to lower his price has not gone unnoticed by a bulk of Premier League clubs, with Newcastle United right at the preliminary stages of negotiations.
He has appeared 79 times for Bayern and has won the Bundesliga championship, but his performances in the matches have not been remarkable. Unsurprisingly, the club are keen to sell him as it overhauls its defense. Now, both Chelsea and Liverpool want defensive cover.
The Blues were snubbed while trying to sign Dean Huijsen, who joined Real Madrid instead. Now, they need to sign some defensive cover before the Club World Cup. The Reds also look to fortify their defense, and Kim is one of those whom they would be keen to sign.
Kim is said to have expressed his desire to join the Premier League. Physically and in experience, he could be a quality option for a club seeking solidity and depth at the back. However, it remains to be seen if his recent form and injury record would be a concern to interested clubs.
Chelsea Have Other Defensive Targets
The Blues are busy this summer searching for defensive targets, and Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite, Lazio’s Mario Gila, and Ajax’s Jorrel Hato are on the shortlist. Branthwaite is valued at £70 million by Everton, and Manchester United have already had two bids rejected.
Gila has impressed in Serie A and the Blues have reportedly tabled an offer of €35 million for him. Lazio were said to have replied by pricing him at €50 million. Hato is a 19-year-old utility player, and the Blues would like to sign as a longer-term stopgap to shore up their defence.