Christian Falk says Bayern München will be the first club with whom Min-jae Kim begins negotiations, and he does not expect anything imminent. Falk also said he would not expect a January move, with Tottenham, Aston Villa and AC Milan all still watching the situation.

Kim remains under contract until 2028, so any move would have to be worked through on Bayern's terms. That is why the winter window is not being treated as the likely exit point, even with outside interest already in place.

Bayern's role in the decision

Falk's reading is clear enough: Bayern will speak first, and the club's contract talks this year will decide whether Kim stays or becomes available. He said the three interested clubs had already made contact in the summer, but there was no offer in the end.

Kim has still played this season, with 3 Bundesliga appearances and 219 minutes, but the role is not as settled as it was before. The move from a clear starting status to a more limited one is part of why Premier League clubs have stayed alert.

The clubs watching and the fee debate

Tottenham, Aston Villa and AC Milan have all been linked with the South Korean international, and the interest has been enough to keep the story alive. The fee talk, though, is still messy. Reports have floated around £30 million and around €40 million, but nothing has hardened into a confirmed valuation.

Bayern's position is the key detail. The club are understood to be open to a departure if they can bring in another defender, but that is a conditional stance, not a sale already lined up. With Kim tied down until 2028, the first real marker will come in the contract talks, not in January.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 6 outlets. How we work →