Bayern Munich News: Chelsea has Kim Min-jae on its list

Bayern Munich’s towering South Korean defender Kim Min-jae is at the center of fresh Premier League speculation after sources confirmed Chelsea have added his name to a growing list of defensive targets ahead of the summer window.

While the 27-year-old is understood to favor remaining in Bavaria, Bayern’s hierarchy are open to moving the center-back on little more than a year after activating his €50 million release clause from Napoli. The Bundesliga champions would entertain offers in the region of €15 million for a player whose current deal runs through 2028, a valuation that reflects both the club’s willingness to cash in and the limited appetite across Europe for a high-wage veteran.

Chelsea’s interest, first revealed by transfer expert Dean Jones, remains tentative. “There has been an element of interest,” Jones told the outlet, “but the prospect of a transfer is still quite slim.” The London club’s recruitment team have widened their age profile after two years focused predominantly on emerging talents, and Kim’s 190-match top-flight résumé across Serie A and the Bundesliga now fits the revised brief. Yet sources close to Stamford Bridge stress the South Korean is one of several experienced defenders under consideration, with no formal approach lodged to date.

Competition could yet emerge from fellow Londoners Tottenham Hotspur, long-term admirers of Kim since his breakout season with Fenerbahçe. Spurs are weighing a cut-price move should Bayern sanction an exit, though any deal hinges on Kim’s willingness to uproot. Privately, the player’s camp have indicated he is reluctant to sacrifice the financial security of his Allianz Arena package, a factor that may force Bayern to reintegrate a player who started only 13 league matches in 2024-25.

For now, Bayern’s board continue to plan with Kim as part of Vincent Kompany’s squad, aware that a change of heart from either the player or a buying club could accelerate a departure before the window closes. Chelsea, meanwhile, will monitor developments while surveying alternative options across Europe, leaving the saga finely poised between reluctant seller, cautious buyer, and a defender content to stay.

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