Rennes reportedly near Kim Min-jae deal as Napoli wait in the wings

Fenerbahce's Kim Min-jae in action during a friendly against Hull City on July 10. [FENERBAHCE]

Fenerbahce center back Kim Min-jae is almost certainly headed further west this summer, but where the Korean defender is actually going remains unclear with both Napoli and Rennes reportedly close to securing a deal.

According to multiple reports from Turkey and France on Friday and Saturday, Rennes has reached an agreement with Fenerbahce to acquire Kim, with some stories going as far to say that paperwork has already been signed between the two clubs.

But where Kim — who has been courted pretty intensively by Napoli in recent weeks as the favored replacement for outgoing Kalidou Koulibaly — stands on the deal remains unclear. Some unconfirmed reports have Kim undergoing a medical for Rennes, but Napoli still remain in the picture until a deal is signed by all three parties.

Further muddying the waters, Italian media reported Saturday that Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur also haven't given up on Kim, with Everton also still trying to keep a foot in the door.

With a Premier League club still likely to be Kim's first choice if he is to depart the Turkish side, it could be that he chooses to keep Rennes hanging on just in case a better deal comes through.

Kim has been a trade rumor favorite for years and this summer is no exception, but there had been concerns that a recent ankle injury might take him off the market. He has returned to form, however, and has been active in Fenerbahce friendlies over the last week.

Kim, nicknamed "The Monster" for his unflappable defense, joined Fenerbahce in August last year from Beijing Guoan, where he had played for two years. At the time, he had been linked to a number of top European clubs including FC Porto, Juventus and Tottenham.

Kim is a highly rated defender who offers a formidable presence in the backline that could see him hold his own against more physical players anywhere in the world. Kim's international performance has gained him a lot of attention, especially during the 2017 Asian qualifier for the 2018 Russia World Cup.

During this year's January transfer window, Fenerbahce reportedly turned down an offer from Napoli, and Everton was also rumored to have put in a bid.

In March, scouts from Premier League clubs Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal and Chelsea, Serie A club Juventus and Primeira Liga club FC Porto were all reported to be attending Fenerbahce games to watch Kim play.

BY JIM BULLEY [jim.bulley@joongang.co.kr]