Saudi Arabia targets Son Heung-min as lucrative transfer talks resume

Son Heung-min (33, Tottenham Hotspur) may resist the temptation of Saudi Arabia once again. There are reports that he wants to spend more time at Tottenham.

British journalist Ben Jacobs, active with UK 'Talk Sports' and others, mentioned Son Heung-min's future amid transfer rumors to Saudi Arabia on the 2nd (Korean time).

He appeared on the Tottenham fan community 'Last Word on Spurs' grants, saying, "Saudi Arabia has shown interest in Son Heung-min since 2023. If Son sends a green light, Saudi clubs will immediately seek to recruit him," while noting, "Son does not think his time at Tottenham has come to an end."

Recently, Son Heung-min has received a love call from Saudi Arabia. The U.S. 'ESPN' reported on the 31st of last month, citing Talk Sports, explaining, "Tottenham's Son Heung-min is not only a talented player that teams want to bring to the league but also a target for several teams in the Saudi Pro League aiming to enter a new international market."

The media added, "The summer transfer market for the Saudi League opens on July 20. The 32-year-old Korean national team striker Son Heung-min is expected to be one of the main targets."

There isn't just one team wanting Son Heung-min. The British 'The Sun' stated, "Son Heung-min could transfer to multiple clubs in the Saudi Pro League. According to sources, Tottenham is considering selling him if a substantial offer comes in," adding, "Al Nassr is considering Son Heung-min as a successor to Cristiano Ronaldo and is already in substantial recruitment efforts."

Currently, there are speculations about Al Nassr bidding farewell to Ronaldo. His contract with the team expires at the end of this month, but he has yet to sign a renewal. He hopes to participate in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 scheduled for this month, thus rumors suggest he could transfer to other qualified teams such as Al Hilal.

If Ronaldo indeed departs, the reasons for Al Nassr wanting Son Heung-min would increase significantly. Al Nassr already boasts a star-studded attacking lineup with Ronaldo, Sadio Mané, and John Duran, yet they have never reached the top of the league since Ronaldo's arrival. Acquiring Son Heung-min would not only strengthen their front line but also gain tremendous popularity in the Asian market.

According to local reports in Saudi Arabia, not only Al Nassr but also Al Ittihad and Al Hilal have expressed interest in Son Heung-min. All three teams are supported by the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), giving them world-class financial capabilities. The competitive landscape could change greatly depending on which team wants Son Heung-min the most.

In particular, Al Ittihad had attempted to recruit Son Heung-min in the summer of 2023. According to sources like 'CBS Sports,' at the time, Al Ittihad prepared a transfer fee of $65 million (about 90 billion won) to hand over to Tottenham. The annual salary offered to Son Heung-min was also €30 million (about 47.1 billion won), totaling €120 million (about 188.5 billion won) over four years.

However, Son Heung-min's answer was 'NO.' He chose to stay at Tottenham and embark on a new challenge with head coach Ange Postecoglou. He referenced the words of Ki Sung-yueng (FC Seoul), stating, "The captain of the South Korean national team does not go to China," and emphasized, "Money is not important right now. What matters is playing in a league I enjoy."

Now the situation is different. As Son Heung-min will soon turn 33, he is entering the twilight of his career, and he has seen a noticeable increase in injury history recently. Contrary to expectations, he has not signed an additional long-term contract with Tottenham and his current contract is set to expire in the summer of 2026. Both Son Heung-min and Tottenham could be swayed by the lure of oil money, unlike two years ago.

ESPN also pointed out that Saudi Arabia could attract Tottenham and Son Heung-min with overwhelming financial power. The media stated, "Tottenham, the UEFA Europa League (UEL) champion, is reluctant to part ways with captain Son Heung-min. However, Son could receive significantly more in Saudi Arabia than he earns in North London, facing a difficult decision."

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