Aston Villa Contacted Player’s Agent After Up Close Look | OneFootball

Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

Aston Villa are monitoring Bayern Munich defender Kim Min-Jae and contacted the South Korean’s representative following Friday’s pre-season meeting between the two sides.

The Birmingham-based side are closing in on left-back Matteo Ruggeri to bolster the backline following the departure of Lucas Digne to Paris Saint-Germain.

Alongside the Italian, Emery is keen to bring in another defensive reinforcement and has also been tracking Roger Ibanez, although the Brazilian does not appear

Enjoying this story?

Add Inside Futbol as a preferred source on Google.

On Friday, the Premier League side faced Bayern Munich, and the clash appears to have reignited their interest in an old target.

According to German daily TZ, Aston Villa are monitoring Min-Jae and made contact with the 29-year-old’s representative after the match over a potential summer switch.

The game, played at Kai Tak Sports Park in Hong Kong during the Asia tour, ended in a 2-1 victory for the Bavarians, with the South Korea international featuring for 63 minutes and finding the net.

It was not the first time Villa had made contact over Min-Jae, with brief discussions also taking place with his agent during the World Cup, although his focus was firmly on his national team commitments.

This season, Aston Villa can offer the 6ft 3in defender both Premier League and Champions League football, matching what he currently has at Bayern Munich, although it remains to be seen whether that is enough to tempt him away with two years still remaining on his contract.

Min-Jae’s willingness to make a move to England could prove decisive, although convincing him to leave may prove difficult given he is already a regular starter under Vincent Kompany in Munich, having made 37 appearances last season.

The 29-year-old defender has also attracted interest from Nottingham Forest, but those enquiries failed to progress, with Min-Jae unwilling to entertain their approach and seemingly content in Germany.

Alongside the centre-back, Emery and his staff have been actively pursuing Joao Palhinha, who impressed during his loan spell with Tottenham Hotspur last season, although Villa face competition for his signature.

It remains to be seen whether the Villans will turn their interest in the South Korean into a formal approach, with a potential move ultimately dependent on Min-Jae’s stance on a switch to the Premier League.