If Tottenham Hotspur misses out on the UEFA Europa League title, the team will truly experience "disintegration." Son Heung-min (33, Tottenham) will face separation once again.

The British outlet Tottenham Hotspur News reported on the 24th (Korea time) that "this summer, a significant exodus, including Dejan Kulusevski, is expected."

The outlet added, "The only condition is that winning the UEFA Europa League is the only way to prevent this."

The outlet reported, "Tottenham's victory in this season's UEFA Europa League is not just a trophy competition but the key to survival. Everything, from coach Ange Postecoglou's future to the retention of key players, and securing a place in European competitions next season, hinges on this one trophy."

Having joined Tottenham on loan after leaving Juventus in 2022, Kulusevski successfully completed a permanent transfer in 2023.

Kulusevski is a modern inverted winger whose strengths lie in ball control and link-up play rather than speed; he can pose a threat even in tight spaces by utilizing his strong physique and precise left-footed kicks. He leads intricate connections with concise touches, heel passes, and left-footed crosses, and demonstrates significant contributions in defense and pressing due to his high work rate.

Sometimes shifting to an attacking midfielder position, he mitigates his previous weaknesses of slow speed and judgment, while maximizing his strengths of stamina, passing, and physicality. However, at critical moments, his lack of speed or judgment can interrupt counter-attacks, which is disappointing. Despite this, as of the first half of the 2024-2025 season, he is regarded as one of the most consistent and stable performers at Tottenham. Before his injury, he added tactical flexibility with regular starting appearances and versatility across various positions, establishing himself as a core player for Tottenham.

Separately, Kulusevski has also been classified as one of the players with a high likelihood of leaving the team. An exclusive report has already emerged on the 16th, suggesting that SSC Napoli is interested in him, claiming that "Tottenham will demand at least £70 million (approximately 132.9 billion won) as a transfer fee." Although Tottenham struggled throughout the season, Kulusevski has been rated as one of the few bright spots.

Tottenham Hotspur News stated, "If the UEFA Europa League title is not secured, the team will lose the opportunity to participate in European competitions next season, which will lead to significant changes in the squad," adding, "Kulusevski is at the center of that change."

Paul Robinson, a club legend and current football commentator, also warned that "failing to qualify for the Champions League will lead to the exodus of several key players." He noted, "In the current situation, finishing the season in 16th or 17th place is a realistic scenario. Failure to qualify for Europe has a destructive impact on the squad, the coach, finances, and overall reinforcement plans."

Currently, Tottenham is chasing both the Premier League and the UEFA Europa League titles. They have fallen behind in the competition for a European spot due to a sudden slump in league performance, and are relying everything on the UEFA Europa League. Coach Postecoglou has also expressed, "I don't want to finish the season without a trophy," indicating that his future also hinges on the UEFA Europa League.

Ultimately, this summer, Tottenham's fate will be decided by whether they qualify for Europe. Kulusevski is also at that crossroads. If they fail to win the UEFA Europa League title, Son Heung-min will once again face separation from his teammates as he has every season.

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