Tottenham Hotspur have already been linked with quite a few centre-backs forward of the January switch window, with Antonio Conte regarded as eager on strengthening his central defensive choices forward of the second half of the 2022/23 marketing campaign.
Certainly, Spurs are rumoured to be taken with winter strikes for the likes of Benfica’s Antonio Silva, Inter Milan’s Milan Skriniar and Stefan de Vrij and RB Leipzig’s Mohamed Simakan, nevertheless, whereas any certainly one of these gamers would undoubtedly make distinctive additions to Conte’s present choices, it’s arguably Kim Min-jae who could be the most effective match for Tottenham’s aspect.
Having missed out on an €18m (£16m) transfer for the South Korea worldwide in the summertime switch window, Gianluca Di Marzio not too long ago revealed that the long-term Spurs goal has a €50m (£44m) launch clause that can turn out to be energetic on the finish of the present marketing campaign – one thing that would current Fabio Paratici with a second likelihood to land the 25-year-old.
And, whereas it will seem unlikely that Tottenham’s sporting director will be capable to get a deal over the road for the 6 foot 3 colossus this January, contemplating simply how spectacular the defender has been this season, the Italian merely should do his utmost to land the 44-cap worldwide in the summertime of 2023.
Certainly, over his 14 Serie A appearances within the present marketing campaign, the £31m-rated expertise has been in imperious kind, serving to his aspect preserve 5 clear sheets, in addition to making a median of 1.1 interceptions, 1.6 tackles, 3.9 clearances and profitable 4.9 duels – at a hit charge of 62% – per sport.
The £54k-per-week centre-back has additionally caught the attention going forwards, hitting the again of the online twice, in addition to making a median of 0.4 key passes, enjoying 3.5 lengthy balls and finishing 66.1 passes – at a hit charge of 90% – per fixture – proving he’s very a lot the kind of ball-playing and progressive defenders Conte prefers in his backline.
These returns have seen the South Korean common a merely sensational SofaScore match ranking of seven.22, not solely rating him as Luciano Spalletti’s sixth-best performer within the league but additionally because the Twenty first-best performer within the Italian high flight as a complete – a rare feat contemplating he’s nonetheless within the infancy of his profession on the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium.
Moreover, Napoli sensation Khvicha Kvaratskhelia not too long ago heaped a substantial quantity of reward on the centre-back, stating in an interview with the Serie A YouTube channel:
“He’s a really sturdy defender. For me, he is among the finest on this planet. If he’s within the defence, you might be in entrance of an iron barrel! You understand he’ll cease the attacker and won’t let the opponents rating. This is the reason he’s a rare defender, which is why he is among the finest on this planet.”
And, with Min-jae set to star alongside Son Heung-min on the World Cup later this month, the 25-year-old appears to be like set to actually announce himself on the world stage this winter, one thing that would simply see curiosity within the defender skyrocket.
As such, it will seem extraordinarily advisable for Paratici to begin laying down the foundations of a transfer for the centre-back as quickly as potential, because the South Korean star would undoubtedly characterize an distinctive addition to Conte’s present defensive choices on the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
