Napoli likely to beat Everton to sign defender Kim Min-Jae

Napoli have reportedly beaten Everton and Inter Milan to secure the services of Fenerbahce defender Kim Min-Jae this summer.

According to Corriere Dello Sport (July 20, Pg. 6), the Serie A side are willing to pay the £17million release clause and sign the 25-year-old.

At the start of June, Sabah reported that the Toffees had already submitted a bid for the South Korea international.

Move on

It was always going to be hard to compete against two clubs that can offer players European football and that has proven to be the case,

At the end of the race, it seems like Napoli are the victors and the Toffees will have to look elsewhere to sign another defender.

The 25-year-old would've been a good acquisition but Everton cannot always get what they want and now will have to look at other options.

There was hope in June when he was having showdown talks with Fenerbahce but that's when the other suitors also entered the race and made things difficult.

Having signed James Tarkowski, the Toffees have addressed one defensive signing but they've got to sign another one as Yerry Mina's injury record has been woeful over the past few months.

Michael Keane has unproven to be a liability at the back and we will not be surprised if he's shown the door should the Toffees rope in another centre-back.