One of Tottenham Hotspur's biggest weaknesses under Antonio Conte has been in defence, perhaps surprisingly so having earned a reputation for being a tactical genius and always defensively sound.

Such exploits saw him clinch a Premier League with Chelsea, whilst he ended Inter Milan's near-decade-long duck of not winning the Serie A.

The Lilywhites, without silverware since 2008, have proven to be his toughest test in the managerial dugout with the top four seemingly their ceiling, though if he's to elevate them to the next level, then defensive additions will likely be the priority in the summer.

However, you can't help but feel that the Italian would be better stocked had chairman Daniel Levy listened to former manager Jose Mourinho, who was keen to sign Kim Min-jae, who is now starring for current Italian leaders Napoli.

Speaking during the recent transfer window, the Portuguese revealed that he wanted to sign the South Korean colossus ahead of his AS Roma side facing him.

"I can tell you a story about one of their players. I spoke to him on FaceTime and wanted to buy him at Tottenham, but Tottenham didn’t help me,” said Mourinho," he said (via Football Italia).

"The player cost €10m, Tottenham offered 5. A deal could be done for €7-8m, but at that time Tottenham couldn’t spend money. I spoke to the lad two or three times via FaceTime, he really wanted to come, but he couldn’t come."

Min-jae swapped his home country and domestic giants Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors for China in a $6m (£5m) deal back in 2019 before Fenerbahce paid just €3m (£2.65m) for his signature in 2021.

Gli Azzurri then snatched him up for €18m (£16m) and he has since emerged as one of the Serie A's best central defenders, such is the case with Naples outfit leading the division, both for points tally and fewest goals conceded.

The 23-year-old, who stands at 6 foot 3, would have been an ideal fit for Conte's typically unbreakable defensive structure, a system that is usually reliant on restricting the opposition's chances.

Instead, he's got Eric Dier, Ben Davies and Davinson Sanchez. Oh, and Clement Lenglet on loan.

Min-jae is Luciano Spalletti's highest-rated centre-back for the campaign so far, where he has combined his titan-like stature with impressive ball-playing tendencies, resulting in an average of 2.65 points per game when he's on the pitch.

His 90.2% passing accuracy, via FBref, is better than all of Spurs' current regular starters, whilst an average of 4.10 clearances and 2.82 tackles and interceptions per 90 is equally impressive and commanding.

Perhaps the north Londoners should go back in for the self-proclaimed "monster", given he's got a reported €50m (£45m) release clause, which will come into play from July this year.

Either way, it's clear that Mourinho was right to bring Min-jae to the club's attention. Levy must surely be red-faced to see his meteoric rise in the three or so years since he rejected the opportunity to sign him for as little as £6m.

AND in other news, Paratici could land Son heir as Spurs eye "generational" £45m-rated "difference-maker"...