South Korean defender Min-jae Kim is among the names linked to N17. (Photo by Alberto PIZZOLI / AFP) (Photo by ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP via Getty Images)

28yo South Korean ace faces dilemma as Chelsea line up plus-plus-cash interest amid Tottenham links

Originally posted on To The Lane And Back
By Jainil Shah | Last updated Jul 16, 2025 6:04 PM ET

We have seen how Daniel Levy has been scrapping through his transfer targets at the heart of the defence along the summer transfer window, but no transfer with regards to a central defender has materialised yet, and one of the CBs that the North Londoners had expressed interest in landing was 28-year-old South Korean defender Kim Min-jae. He is an interesting prospect, and he has had long-term admirers at Hotspur Way given how the club were looking to sign him back when he moved to Bayern Munich from Napoli, but it’s not too late as the Lilywhites reintegrate an interest in his signatures this window.

But like most of Tottenham’s transfers this window, there is a twist in this one as well, given how Spurs Premier League rivals Chelsea have also expressed interest in securing his signature. The Blues are said to be offering Renato Veiga (who has also been attributed to links with Tottenham) in a possible cash-plus-player deal for Min-jae, per Italian outlet Tutto Mercato Web.

There have been reports of Bayern Munich being willing to cash in on Kim Min-jae this summer, and now he faces the prospect of playing in the Premier League with two big boys in the English top tier competing for his signature.

It would be an interesting battle between London clubs for Min-jae

Tottenham Hotspur hold Son Heung-min advantage to sign Min-Jae Kim. (Photo by Simone Arveda/Getty Images)

With Chelsea winning the Club World Cup this summer and also having that UEFA Champions League qualification for next season, they have made Stamford Bridge a prospect to win trophies yet again. But given how they operate in a very businesslike manner, a few bad games and a player is thrown into the far end. And this is where Tottenham comes in…

Tottenham is a family club where everyone is nurtured and played into their strengths. And whilst there are Romero and Micky van de Ven ahead of him in the pecking order, he would be an easy rotational piece and first choice switch in case of an injury given the lack of experience in the roster at N17 at the moment.

Now it will be up to him to decide whether he should pursue a move to a business club and make himself just an asset or come into a place where he will be loved and celebrated.

This article first appeared on To The Lane And Back and was syndicated with permission.

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