Will Son Heung-min (33, Tottenham Hotspur) cross over to Saudi Arabia this time?
American 'ESPN' cited a report from British 'TalkSport' on the 31st of last month (Korea time), stating, "Tottenham's Son Heung-min is not only a target for several Saudi Professional League teams looking to bring players with real skills to the league but also aims to enter a new international market."
The outlet added, "The summer transfer window for the Saudi League opens on July 20. The 32-year-old South Korean national team forward Son Heung-min is expected to be one of many targets."
There is an analysis that the power of oil money, backed by the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), could tempt both Tottenham and Son Heung-min. ESPN noted, "Tottenham, the UEFA Europa League (UEL) champion, is reluctant to part ways with captain Son Heung-min. However, if Son moves to Saudi Arabia, he is likely to earn much more than his income in North London, putting him in a difficult position."
Once again, transfer rumors regarding Son Heung-min to Saudi Arabia are surfacing this summer. Both Al Ittihad, who targeted him two years ago, and Al Nassr appear to be actively pursuing him.
British 'The Sun' recently reported, "Son Heung-min could transfer to several clubs in the Saudi Professional League. According to sources, Tottenham is considering selling him if a substantial offer comes in," adding that "Al Nassr is focusing on Son Heung-min as a successor to Cristiano Ronaldo and is already engaged in practical recruitment efforts."
Currently, there are discussions about the possibility of Al Nassr parting ways with Ronaldo. His contract with the team expires at the end of this month, but he has not signed a renewal yet. He hopes to participate in the FIFA 2025 Club World Cup this month, leading to rumors that he could transfer to another team that has secured a spot, like Al Hilal.
If Ronaldo departs, the reasons for Al Nassr wanting Son Heung-min will increase significantly. Al Nassr already boasts a luxurious attacking lineup featuring Ronaldo, Sadio Mané, and John Duran, but they have never reached the top of the league since Ronaldo joined. Acquiring Son Heung-min would not only add substantial weight to their frontline but could also gain immense popularity in the Asian market.
According to local reports, not only Al Nassr but also Al Ittihad and Al Hilal are interested in Son Heung-min. All three teams are backed by the PIF, therefore, their financial capabilities are among the best in the world. The competitive landscape is likely to change depending on which team wants Son Heung-min the most.
In particular, Al Ittihad attempted to recruit Son Heung-min in the summer of 2023. According to 'CBS Sports' and others, Al Ittihad prepared a transfer fee of $65 million (approximately 90 billion won) to be sent to Tottenham at that time. The salary proposed to Son Heung-min was 30 million euros (approximately 47.1 billion won), totaling 120 million euros (approximately 188.4 billion won) over four years.
However, Son Heung-min's answer was 'NO.' He chose to stay at Tottenham and take on new challenges under coach Ange Postecoglou. He referred to the words of Ki Sung-yong (FC Seoul), saying, "The captain of the South Korean national team does not go to China," and emphasized, "Right now, money is not important. What matters is playing in a league I like."
Now, the situation is different. With Son Heung-min soon turning 33, he is entering the twilight of his career, and his recent injury history has noticeably increased. Unlike expectations, he has not been able to secure an additional multi-year contract with Tottenham, and his contract is set to expire in the summer of 2026. Unlike two years ago, both Son Heung-min and Tottenham can now be swayed by the temptations of oil money.
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