Uncertainty is once again clouding the future of Son Heung-min (33, Tottenham Hotspur) ahead of the 2025-2026 season. A top Premier League forward and a symbol of Tottenham, Son is still considering his next move without having signed a long-term contract with the club. With the UEFA Europa League final approaching, rumors about a transfer to a Saudi Arabian club are resurfacing.

TBR Football reported on the 18th (Korean time) that, "It is highly likely that Son Heung-min will remain with Tottenham next season, but his future depends on the plans of the next coach."

It added, "Internally, Tottenham is leaving open the possibility of sacking coach Ange Postecoglou at the end of this season." Despite the achievement of reaching the Europa League final, the team's 17th place in the league is a figure that signals a possible change in coaching.

Coach Postecoglou took charge of Tottenham ahead of last season, leading them to a fifth-place finish in the Premier League, but this season has seen a series of poor performances in both the league and domestic cup competitions. They were eliminated early from both the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup and have been languishing in the lower ranks of the Premier League. The only hope lies in the Europa League trophy, but analyses suggest that this alone does not guarantee his continuation.

Amid this situation, interest from Saudi Arabia in Son Heung-min has resurfaced. TBR Football noted, "Saudi Arabian clubs have been in constant contact with Son's side," adding that they are presenting a large contract similar to previous offers. In particular, Saudi Arabia has been actively signing top European players in recent years, fueled by oil money. Karim Benzema, N'Golo Kanté, and Sadio Mané are already playing in the Saudi league, and Son is being mentioned as a candidate to join them.

Son signed a one-year contract extension with Tottenham last January, but since then, there have been no significant discussions about a new contract. The extension was interpreted as an intention to further assess Son's performance, and in reality, no concrete negotiations have made progress. In this context, the resurgence of transfer rumors from Saudi Arabia corroborates that the club's stance and Son's future are at a crossroads.

If Tottenham does not transfer Son this summer and does not extend his contract during the next season, he will become a free agent in the summer of 2026. From Tottenham's perspective, losing an asset without compensation is a significant concern, so there is a considerable chance that they will take steps to secure transfer revenue in the summer transfer market.

Al Ittihad of Saudi Arabia had previously offered Son 7.5 million euros annually for a total of about 30 million euros (approximately 42 billion won) over four years in 2023. At that time, Son chose to remain, stating, "Money is not important," but given the current uncertainty regarding Tottenham's willingness to negotiate a new contract, it is unclear whether he will repeat that choice.

Son Heung-min has left an impressive legacy in the history of Asian football. Having challenged European football from his youth period at Hamburger, he built his career at Bayer Leverkusen and Tottenham, breaking the record for the highest transfer fee for an Asian player. Since joining Tottenham in 2015, he has been regarded as one of the best duos in the Premier League alongside Harry Kane, and in the 2021-2022 season, he became the top scorer in the Premier League, leaving a mark in the annals of Asian football history.

He has drawn the attention of fans worldwide with spectacular goals against Burnley and multiple goals against Manchester City, and in recent seasons, he has taken on a leadership role, donning the captain's armband. However, despite all his contributions, Tottenham is not pursuing a long-term contract. The duration of his contract is increasingly dwindling, which could be interpreted as a lack of trust from the club towards Son.

Against this backdrop, Tottenham is preparing for the Europa League final, set to take place on the 22nd in Bilbao, Spain, against Manchester United. If Son performs well in this match and leads the team to victory, his future at Tottenham may change; conversely, if he underperforms or the team misses out on the trophy, he could become a key figure in the summer transfer market.

After the match against Aston Villa, Son said, "I was really happy to be able to play today. My physical condition is good, and I am fully prepared to participate in the final," expressing his determination. Son, who stated, "Nothing is over yet. We can do this," continues to show his willingness to fight for the team.

Ultimately, Son Heung-min's future is expected to be decided based on the upcoming final, the future of Coach Postecoglou, and the club's contract policies.

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