Spurs have tried to sign "The Monster" before
Spurs have tried to sign "The Monster" before
Afternoon folks, just a quick Tottenham Tittle Tattle as I have a lot going on right now, but just a quick look at the Kim Min-Jae rumours.
Tottenham, Liverpool, Everton, RB Leipzig, Lazio, PSV, Porto, and Arsenal have all been following South Korean centre-back Kim Min-Jae.
Spurs have in fact been following his past 3 years that I know of.
Watford and Southampton have tried to sign the 23 year old (24 in November) ‘monster’ defender who plays for Chinese Super League side Beijing Guoan.
Italians Lazio have him as their second choice, according to Italian daily newspaper Corriere dello Sport.
The Korea JoongAng Daily reported in January last year that Watford had offered £6m (€6.63m - AUS$10.82m - US$7.46m) for the defender when he was 22.
Beijing Guoan eventually bought him from South Korean K League 1 side Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors for £4.72m (€5.22m - AUS$8.51m - US$5.87m) in January 2019.
Min-Jae went there because he had already agreed terms with the Chinese.
He was the clubs Player of the Year before moving to China and regular first-team football, perhaps something he wouldn't have got at that stage in the Premier League.
It was unfortunate that he missed out on the World Cup in 2018 in Russia because he had fractured his skin bone that season.
Tottenham and Liverpool were both reported to be trying to sign him that season but the injury put paid to any move.
Apart from Son Heung-min at Spurs, Hwang Hee-chan plays for RB Salzburg and Lee Kang is at Valencia.
The strength of the game has grown and is growing, players of European standard are starting to emerge, which makes it a cheap talent source, like Holland or Belgium used to be.
Now I have spoken in the past, mainly about Gareth Bale, as a marketing commodity.
Son Heung-min is a marketing commodity in South Korea and because the national stereotype is small and technically gifted, defenders are not what you think about when thinking of South Korean football.
That makes Kim Min-Jae stand out, that will make him a national hero, that will make him a marketing commodity.
If Spurs bought him and he was a success, then Tottenham with two South Koreans would have a huge profile in a growing market and once you have fans onside, you don't lose them.
It could lead to bigger and better sponsorship deals which then allows more investment into the team.
The more the business earns the more can be spent on the squad, that's the theory.
Italians Lazio have him as their second choice, according to Italian daily newspaper Corriere dello Sport.
The Korea JoongAng Daily reported in January last year that Watford had offered £6m (€6.63m - AUS$10.82m - US$7.46m) for the defender when he was 22.
Beijing Guoan eventually bought him from South Korean K League 1 side Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors for £4.72m (€5.22m - AUS$8.51m - US$5.87m) in January 2019.
Min-Jae went there because he had already agreed terms with the Chinese.
He was the clubs Player of the Year before moving to China and regular first-team football, perhaps something he wouldn't have got at that stage in the Premier League.
It was unfortunate that he missed out on the World Cup in 2018 in Russia because he had fractured his skin bone that season.
Tottenham and Liverpool were both reported to be trying to sign him that season but the injury put paid to any move.
Apart from Son Heung-min at Spurs, Hwang Hee-chan plays for RB Salzburg and Lee Kang is at Valencia.
The strength of the game has grown and is growing, players of European standard are starting to emerge, which makes it a cheap talent source, like Holland or Belgium used to be.
Now I have spoken in the past, mainly about Gareth Bale, as a marketing commodity.
Son Heung-min is a marketing commodity in South Korea and because the national stereotype is small and technically gifted, defenders are not what you think about when thinking of South Korean football.
That makes Kim Min-Jae stand out, that will make him a national hero, that will make him a marketing commodity.
If Spurs bought him and he was a success, then Tottenham with two South Koreans would have a huge profile in a growing market and once you have fans onside, you don't lose them.
It could lead to bigger and better sponsorship deals which then allows more investment into the team.
The more the business earns the more can be spent on the squad, that's the theory.
Why is he called the monster?
Because of his height, 6'3" (1.9m),his build,his physicality, he has a competitive streak that makes him powerful in the tackle, as he pointed out once in an interview.
“The Real Madrid defenders are a bit rough, and the Barcelona defenders are a bit soft. I personally like to hit.” Kim Min-Jae
He is calm and reads the game well, has good timing and an excellent technique.
Kim understands when to break the defensive line, he is adept at tracking runners and despite his size ia mobile.
As a centre-back he is comfortable on the ball, indeed he is always looking to receive it from his fellow centre-back and goalkeeper when playing for South Korea because he understands his responsibility to build from the back.
Kim can ping the long pass,which would be good news for Dele, but can play the short triangle passes round attackers to step forward confidently with the ball into the opposition half.
What I like about him is that he is a proper defender, he likes defending, he prides himself on it.
Some defenders are more interested in attacking, full-backs have to in the modern game, but a centre-back should have the Italian trait, they should consider it a personal affront if a goal is conceded.
To the Italian mentality,stopping a goal is as important as scoring a goal, not being defeated is in the footballing blood. Kim has that same belief.
Could he develop into a Harry Maguire, if he could then that's £70 million (€77.37m - AUS$126.17m - US$87.10m) saved!
Kim understands when to break the defensive line, he is adept at tracking runners and despite his size ia mobile.
As a centre-back he is comfortable on the ball, indeed he is always looking to receive it from his fellow centre-back and goalkeeper when playing for South Korea because he understands his responsibility to build from the back.
Kim can ping the long pass,which would be good news for Dele, but can play the short triangle passes round attackers to step forward confidently with the ball into the opposition half.
What I like about him is that he is a proper defender, he likes defending, he prides himself on it.
Some defenders are more interested in attacking, full-backs have to in the modern game, but a centre-back should have the Italian trait, they should consider it a personal affront if a goal is conceded.
To the Italian mentality,stopping a goal is as important as scoring a goal, not being defeated is in the footballing blood. Kim has that same belief.
Could he develop into a Harry Maguire, if he could then that's £70 million (€77.37m - AUS$126.17m - US$87.10m) saved!
Clubs are convinced he can make it big in Europe, but the Chinese are asking £13.56m (€15m - AUS$24.45m - US$16.87m), a record for a defender from the Chinese Super League.
That could still be a bargain to European clubs and Spurs would do well to snap him up, even if we then loan him out to a newly promoted Premier League club.
His transfermarkt valuation is just £720,000 (€796,176 - AUS$1.3m - US$895,248) so the fee the Chinese are asking looks somewhat inflated.
This however, may be one of those occasions where you bite the bullet and pay a little more than you normally would.
If he is a success you have an absolute bargain on your hands,if he isn't you'll still probably at least get your money back. It is worth the risk.
I have long since advocated snapping bargains up in South America so why not China, despite the level of football. He has 30 international caps, scoring 3 goals and is ready for a climb in grade.
Of course because we have one South Korean the press are trying to make a big story out of the connection and inventing stories, but we have been kept abreast of Kim Min-Jae's temperament and progress by Sonny.
Their national characteristic is one we would do well to have more of at Spurs.
I'm all in favour of signing him.
By all means post the article on social media and have a read at other articles on the blog, a selection of which are below.
I'm all in favour of signing him.
By all means post the article on social media and have a read at other articles on the blog, a selection of which are below.
COYS
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