Gracia Denies Kim Knowledge

Javi Gracia says he knows nothing about reports linking Watford with a move for South Korean defender Kim Min Jae.

The Hornets were reported to have opened talks with K-League side Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors this week in the hope of concluding a deal for Kim before the January transfer window closes.

The 22-year-old, who has earned the nickname of ‘The Monster’ in his homeland, has helped Jeonbuk win back-to-back league titles and was set to feature for South Korea at last summer’s World Cup, only for injury to rule him out of the tournament.

While Kim looks set to make the switch to Europe at some point in the near future, Gracia says he won’t be coming to Vicarage Road this month, claiming he is well stocked for defenders.

He told the Watford Observer: “I don’t know anything about this player. I have listened to something about him, it was not in the club, out of here somewhere. “In this moment I have five players as centre-back, maybe six with Ben Wilmot also as a centre-back as well. We have enough players, enough good players to play this season.

“I don’t want to tell or say something about players that I don’t know anything about. “I prepare to be focused on my players and to do my job, which is to improve my players’ level and make our supporters enjoy the football.”