Another name appears to have been added to the shortlist of potential centre-back recruits for Liverpool in 2026.
The Reds have been linked with numerous defenders over the past couple of months, with reported targets ranging from familiar names like Marc Guehi and Nico Schlotterbeck, to lesser-known alternatives such as Dynamo Kyiv starlet Taras Mykhavko and Union Berlin’s Diogo Leite.
Another man from the Bundesliga is seemingly on Richard Hughes’ radar as the January transfer window slowly begins to come into view.
Liverpool reportedly monitoring Kim Min-jae
As reported by Dean Jones for Flashscore (via The Boy Hotspur), Liverpool are monitoring Kim Min-jae at Bayern Munich, who’s also being followed closely by Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur.
The €50m (£43.7m) defender has struggled for game-time under Vincent Kompany this season, and it’s claimed that the German champions haven’t ruled out the possibility of a sale in 2026, although they intend to give themselves time to assess his situation first.
A transfer next summer is deemed more likely than a January exit, although the 28-year-old is understood to be focused on trying to regain his starting berth at the Allianz Arena.
What qualities would Kim bring to Liverpool’s defence?
With Ibrahima Konate’s contract situation still unresolved and Liverpool’s defensive deficiencies being exposed far too often in recent weeks, it comes as no surprise that centre-back appears to be a priority position for the Premier League champions when the market reopens.
Kim might be struggling for starts at Bayern, and he mightn’t represent the most valuable long-term option as he turns 29 next month, but he’d give the Reds a commanding option for the here-and-now who’s a proven operator in the Champions League.
An in-depth analysis by Breaking The Lines has praised his ‘mastery of control’ with the ball and describes him as a highly adaptable ‘tactical chameleon’ and a calm, composed defender who ‘thrives where others panic’.
At 6 foot 2, the South Korean would also give Arne Slot a physically imposing presence at the back, a trait which has grown in importance amid the increasing prevalence of set-piece goals in the Premier League.
Kim is more than just a hulking defensive guardian – as per FBref, he ranks among the top 6% and top 8% respectively among centre-backs in Europe’s five main leagues over the past year for pass completion (93%) and progressive passes per 90 minutes (5.59).
He could need some convincing to leave Bayern, and competition for his signature is set to be intense if he’s put up for sale, but Liverpool could do a lot worse than give serious consideration to the 28-year-old if they’re seeking to reinforce their backline in 2026.
Is he better than Ousmane Diomande??… I don’t think so! Just as I suggested that LFC should snap up Dembele when he was going through a slump at Barcelona…I tell you here and now Wirtz WILL BE snapped up by some major club if Liverpool does not fix it’s playing 11! Somebody is dropping yhr ball big time at LFC!!
No one can be signed until January at the earliest, and even then, it’ll probably be more expedient in the summer.
Guehi is likely, he’s expressed a preference which only the media have shouted over the top of.
Konate going is in the air.
Florian has signed for 5 years.
How foolish would it be to spend that kind of money to keep a proven world class player for possibly less than a season ?
Pointless, wasteful speculation.
I don’t Guehi is a Liverpool player. Schlotterbeck is a better fit for me.
Marc’s assured England performances say otherwise, Duncan.
Don’t know enough about the German, not seen him due to having no Bundesliga, but if he’s as good as you believe, no reason we can’t have both, especially if Ibou is off elsewhere.
Kim Min-jae is a total bombscare of a defender. Eric Dier kept him out of the Bayern team. That sums him up. One to avoid.
Where are Liverpool’s scouts every day? We’re westing our time on trying to sign a world-class player. We lost Marc Geuhi and still have Joe Gomez, while Arsenal signed Mosquera and Piero Hincapie, and we’re still monitoring Kim Min-jae and some over-25s.
Chelsea signed Estevao, Real Madrid signed Mastantuono, Barcelona signed Roony. We’re waiting on Olise to replace Salah while forgetting young talents like Malick Fofana.
Where are the scouts? What are you doing? Liverpool need only Marc Guehi a young left-footed centre-back like Lukeba or Mykhavko . Forget about Scholtterbeck, Diomande, Araujo, Botman, Leite and others over 25. Forget about Olise; go get Fofana, Estevao or another two young players like them to replace Mo Salah. Good luck, YNWA
Sounds like you should apply for scouting job at Anfield, Sadi.
You’ve done some homework there.
Maybe check on how LFC go about the business of signing players, Sadi.
LFC didn’t “lose” Marc Guehi.
Contracts need to be honoured, unless a deal can be struck to end that contract and let a willing club let a willing player move.
Palace’s situation meant they couldn’t.
Estevao and Fofana are contracted, as is Olise. They have made no moves to force a move to LFC.
LFC have made a polite enquiry over Olise, but Bayern have said no and offered him a contract extension. Money might well talk at a later date, but now is not the time to be making those moves.
It may help you to form a more sensible and respected opinion if you were able to discern the genuine from the media rubbish that’s put out there, so that others can spot the ones who keep the non-stories in circulation.