Son Heung-min (33, Tottenham), who has nothing left to prove on the European stage, is attracting attention regarding the possibility of returning to Asia. Reports have emerged that Saudi Arabia's two prestigious clubs, Al-Ittihad and Al-Hilal, have entered into serious competition to sign Son, bringing his transfer rumors closer to reality.

Salati noted on the 31st (Korean time) that "Al-Ittihad has newly entered the competition for Son Heung-min, while Al-Hilal is still considered the most active club," adding that "Tottenham is no longer opposing the sale of Son at a high price."

The atmosphere has changed rapidly in recent weeks. The Daily Sun reported on the 29th that "Tottenham is seriously considering the possibility of a transfer for Son Heung-min. The interest from Saudi Arabian clubs is concrete, and if the proposed amount is reasonable, they may allow the transfer."

On the 22nd, Son Heung-min lifted his first major trophy after 10 years in a Tottenham jersey by defeating Manchester United in the UEFA Europa League final. With this historical title as the third Tottenham captain to lift a trophy in European competition, he effectively concluded all the achievements he could accomplish with the team.

As the Premier League's top scorer, with eight consecutive seasons of double-digit goals and being the first non-European captain of Tottenham, Son Heung-min has already built records that will remain in the club's history. As a result, local evaluations suggest that he has "wrapped up the final chapter at Tottenham."

Tottenham is also facing realistic concerns. Son Heung-min's contract was extended until June 2026 due to a one-year extension option activated last January, but he will be 34 years old at the end of his contract. This summer's transfer market may likely be the last real opportunity to sell him for a fee.

Additionally, Son Heung-min's performance this season has not been perfect. Due to injuries and a decline in fitness, he has shown inconsistency throughout the league, and his streak of scoring double-digit goals, which lasted for eight years, was broken this season. The Guardian commented that "considering the high salary and age of Son Heung-min, it could be the right time to consider bidding farewell."

The love calls from Saudi Arabian clubs have now entered the "execution stage" rather than just being a "proposal." According to local reports, Al-Ittihad and Al-Hilal have already made a transfer proposal to Tottenham amounting to £50 million (about 93.1 billion won). If Son Heung-min leaves the team, it could be one of the most symbolic transfers in Tottenham's history.

Al-Ittihad is a dominant force in Saudi Arabia, having won the league title last season with Karim Benzema at the forefront. They offered a contract worth a total of 240 billion won to Son Heung-min two years ago, but he declined that offer. However, this time the situation feels different since he has already grasped all honors in Europe.

Al-Hilal is also a traditional powerhouse boasting the most titles in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League. They initially targeted Liverpool's Mohamed Salah as their top priority but switched to Son Heung-min after failing to secure him. Son is considered a "symbolic asset" expected to lead the globalization of the Saudi league based on his fanbase in East Asia.

TalkSport and GiveMeSport reported that "the Saudi Arabian league has designated Son Heung-min as the successor to Cristiano Ronaldo," adding that "it is not surprising for a player in a position where he has nothing left to prove to consider practicality."

Internally at Tottenham, the reasons against a transfer are gradually diminishing. While Tottenham is well aware of Son Heung-min's presence and fan support, they must also consider his salary, the expiration of his contract, and the long-term plan for team restructuring. SpursWeb predicted that "Son Heung-min's salary has already exceeded the team's standards, and Tottenham may make a decision to recoup the transfer fee."

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