A significant task has been assigned to Thomas Frank, who is about to take over as Tottenham Hotspur manager. Son Heung-min (33) did not dismiss transfer rumors to Saudi Arabia, unlike two years ago.
The British outlet 'Football London' reported on the 11th (Korean time) that 'Frank is facing important discussions regarding Son's transfer. He has left major talks about the future.'
The media noted, 'The first thing Frank must do after starting his life at Tottenham is to discuss Son's football future. We know that Captain Son is more likely than ever to leave Tottenham.'
The possibility that Captain Son Heung-min and Vice Captain Cristian Romero could leave Tottenham like Harry Kane did two years ago. Football London pointed out that 'Frank could face a situation similar to Ange Postecoglou in 2023, given the uncertainty surrounding Son and Romero's futures.'
The media also emphasized, 'After spending 10 years at Tottenham, Son has now achieved the trophy he always aimed for. He is more open than ever to leaving the club this summer if a suitable contract for everyone involved is reached. In an interview conducted before the UEFA Europa League final, he acknowledged that the reason for staying at Tottenham was finally his desire to bring a trophy to the club.'
Son Heung-min's contract with Tottenham will expire at the end of the upcoming 2025-2026 season. Instead of offering him a contract renewal, Tottenham limited itself to activating a one-year extension option. This has kept transfer rumors alive. He expressed a desire to leave Tottenham as a legend after lifting the UEFA Europa League (UEL) trophy last month, suggesting that he might be ready for a new challenge.
Additionally, the dismissal of Manager Postecoglou could also affect Son's future. The British 'Telegraph' exclusively reported that 'Tottenham is facing a rebellion from its players. After the brutal dismissal of Australian-born manager Postecoglou just 16 days after winning the Europa League, the players' anger erupted.'
The media stated, 'Postecoglou's dismissal has sparked anger among many Tottenham players. Some players want to leave the team. According to sources, the next coach will face significant challenges in managing a fractured locker room,' and added, 'Son has left the impression with some teammates and coaching staff that he could leave Tottenham this summer. There is interest from Saudi Arabia in him.'
Key Tottenham defender Cristian Bentancur has subtly expressed dissatisfaction with Postecoglou's dismissal. In an interview with his country's media, he said, 'Many players got along well with the manager. He is the first manager in a long time to lead Tottenham to glory. That shows he possesses certain qualities and a competitive spirit 100%. In that regard, the dismissal can certainly be regarded as strange.'
Particularly, Son Heung-min is hot on the transfer rumors to Saudi Arabia. Clubs such as Al Nassr, Al Ittihad, and Al Hilal, backed by the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), are reportedly interested in Son. The U.S. outlet 'ESPN' reported, 'The summer transfer window for the Saudi league opens on July 20. The 32-year-old South Korean national team striker Son Heung-min is expected to be one of many targets.'
Among them, Al Nassr appears to be particularly interested in Son. The British 'The Sun' claimed, 'Son Heung-min could transfer to one of several clubs in the Saudi Pro League. Sources indicate that Tottenham is considering selling him if a substantial offer comes in, pointing out that Al Nassr is eyeing Son as the successor to Cristiano Ronaldo, and already ongoing practical recruitment efforts.'
Al Ittihad also attempted to secure Son Heung-min's transfer in the summer of 2023. According to reports from 'CBS Sports' and others, Al Ittihad was prepared to pay a transfer fee of $65 million (approximately 90 billion won) to Tottenham at that time. The annual salary proposed to Son was also €30 million (approximately 46.5 billion won), totaling €120 million (approximately 186.1 billion won) over four years.
Nevertheless, two years ago, Son's answer was 'NO.' Son chose to remain at Tottenham and face a new challenge with Manager Postecoglou. He referenced Ki Sung-yueng's (FC Seoul) statement that 'the captain of the South Korean national team does not go to China,' saying, 'Right now, money is not important. What's important is playing in a league that I like.'
But the situation has changed now. Since Son is nearing 33 years of age, he is entering the twilight of his career, and his recent injury history has noticeably increased. Contrary to expectations, he could not secure a multi-year contract extension with Tottenham, leaving only one season left on his contract. Both Son and Tottenham may be swayed by the allure of oil money, unlike two years ago.
ESPN also pointed out that Saudi Arabia can tempt Tottenham and Son with overwhelming financial power. The media mentioned, 'The UEL-winning team Tottenham is reluctant to part with Captain Son. However, if Son goes to Saudi Arabia, he is likely to earn significantly more than his income in North London, thus facing a difficult decision.'
Football London also noted that 'Saudi Pro League teams are expected to start pursuing Son Heung-min for recruitment this summer. They are aware that Son's considerable popularity throughout Asia can significantly impact the league. The likelihood of a transfer to Saudi Arabia is more realistic now than when Son unequivocally excluded it last summer.'
The British 'BBC' also explained, 'At the age of 32, Son Heung-min currently has only one year left on his contract and has expressed uncertainty about his future,' stating, 'If Frank takes over as the next Tottenham manager, Son's future could become the first issue he faces. That possibility is increasingly growing.'
Ultimately, Son's decision is crucial. Football London stated, 'Much depends on Tottenham's position and ultimately Son's own position.' It emphasized, 'Son has already established himself as a legend at Tottenham. In the coming weeks, it will be decided whether this trophy will be the last chapter of his time in North London or whether it will be a gateway to more adventures under a new coach.'
It has been reported that there have already been light contacts with Saudi Arabia. European football transfer market expert Fabrizio Romano recently explained, 'The emergence of transfer possibilities for Son Heung-min is due to the very good relationship between Son's agent and Saudi clubs. There have been conversations in recent weeks. There is interest from Saudi Arabia in him.'
He also stated, 'For now, there have been no advances in negotiations. Tottenham has not received any official offers yet. It is still in the early stages. However, the interest from Saudi Arabia is real,' adding, 'We need to see how things develop. We also need to see who the next Tottenham manager will be, as the new manager may say that Son is 'untouchable' and wish to keep him in the squad.'
Son Heung-min himself has not closed the door on the possibility of moving to Saudi Arabia. After finishing a match against Kuwait on the 10th, when asked about his future, he responded, 'I still have time left on my contract. It is not appropriate to say anything here now,' while also saying, 'Right now, it’s right to wait. I’m curious too. It’s hard to predict what will happen. I think it’s better to watch what happens.' This is certainly a changed stance from two years ago.
[Photo] Tottenham, Live Score social media.
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