After two years, he obtained the championship trophy. Now Son Heung-min (33, Tottenham) just has to decide his own future.
The British 'Football London' noted on the 12th (Korea time) that 'Thomas Frank, the new Tottenham manager, is facing significant talks regarding Son Heung-min's transfer. He has left major comments about the future.' It added that 'the first task Frank must undertake after starting his Tottenham life is to discuss Son Heung-min's football future. We are well aware that captain Son is more likely to leave Tottenham than ever.'
Tottenham is undergoing a period of great upheaval. They lifted the UEFA Europa League trophy in the 2024-2025 season, but manager Ange Postecoglou was dismissed. The British 'Telegraph' reported, 'Tottenham is on the brink of a revolt among its players. Just 16 days after winning the Europa League, the anger of Tottenham's players exploded as Australian-born manager Postecoglou was harshly fired.'
The media noted that 'Postecoglou's dismissal has generated significant anger among many Tottenham players. Some players want to leave the team. According to sources, the next manager will face great difficulties in stabilizing the broken locker room.' It also stated, 'Son Heung-min has given some teammates and coaching staff the impression that he could leave Tottenham this summer. Saudi Arabia has shown interest in him.'
In fact, Son Heung-min's contract with Tottenham expires at the end of the upcoming 2025-2026 season. Instead of offering him a new contract, Tottenham opted to activate a one-year extension option. This has led to ongoing transfer speculation. He expressed a desire to leave Tottenham as a legend after lifting the UEFA Europa League trophy last month, leading to predictions that he could embark on a new challenge.
Additionally, the dismissal of manager Postecoglou could also influence Son Heung-min's future. Reports indicate that not only Son but also vice-captain Cristian Romero has shown significant dissatisfaction regarding Postecoglou's situation. In fact, Romero has reportedly demanded that Postecoglou remain as a precondition for his continued stay at Tottenham.
Captain Son Heung-min and vice-captain Cristian Romero could leave Tottenham just like Harry Kane did two years ago. Football London pointed out that 'Frank could face a situation similar to that of Ange Postecoglou in 2023 due to uncertainty surrounding the futures of Son Heung-min and Romero.'
Son Heung-min is strongly linked to a move to Saudi Arabia. Al Nassr, Al Ittihad, and Al Hilal, backed by the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), are reportedly interested in Son. The American 'ESPN' noted, 'The summer transfer window of the Saudi League opens on July 20. The 32-year-old South Korean national team striker Son Heung-min is expected to be among many targets.'
Among them, Al Nassr is particularly keen on acquiring Son Heung-min. The British 'The Sun' stated, 'Son Heung-min could move to multiple clubs in the Saudi Pro League. According to sources, Tottenham is considering a sale should a substantial offer come in.' It added, 'Al Nassr is paying attention to Son Heung-min as Cristiano Ronaldo's successor. They are already engaged in practical acquisition efforts.'
Al Ittihad also attempted to recruit Son Heung-min in the summer of 2023. According to sources such as 'CBS Sports,' Al Ittihad was prepared to offer a transfer fee of $65 million (approximately 90 billion won) to Tottenham at that time. The annual salary proposed to Son was also reported to reach €30 million (approximately 46.5 billion won), totaling €120 million (approximately 186.1 billion won) over four years.
Football London explained, 'After spending 10 years at Tottenham, Son Heung-min has now achieved the championship that he always aimed for. He is more open to leaving the club this summer if a suitable contract is reached for all parties. In an interview conducted ahead of the Europa League final, he acknowledged that his reason for staying at Tottenham was finally to bring a trophy to the club.'
Two years ago, Son Heung-min turned down a move to Saudi Arabia, but now he has achieved everything possible at Tottenham. It is worth noting that Son, soon to turn 33, is entering the twilight of his career, and his recent injury history has noticeably increased. Unlike expectations, he has not signed a multi-year contract with Tottenham, leaving only one season remaining.
Son Heung-min has not ruled out the possibility of moving to Saudi Arabia. After the match against Kuwait on the 10th, when asked about his future, he stated, 'I still have time left on my contract. It is not appropriate to say anything here right now,' but also added, 'Now it is right to wait. I am also curious. It is difficult to predict what will happen.'
ESPN pointed out that Saudi Arabia could lure Tottenham and Son Heung-min with overwhelming financial power. The media reported, 'The UEFA Europa League champion Tottenham is reluctant to part ways with captain Son Heung-min. However, Son faces a difficult decision as moving to Saudi Arabia is likely to yield much higher earnings than what he makes in North London.'
Football London has also stated, 'Saudi Pro League teams are set to pursue Son Heung-min's acquisition this summer. They are aware that Son's immense popularity across Asia could have a significant impact on the league. The possibility of a Saudi transfer is more realistic now than when Son directly excluded it last summer.'
The British 'BBC' also reported, 'At 32 years old, Son Heung-min has only one year left on his contract and has shown uncertainty about the future.' It noted, 'If Frank becomes the next Tottenham manager, Son's future may be the first issue he faces. That possibility is growing.'
In the end, the decision lies with Son Heung-min. For manager Frank or Tottenham, having Son stay would be undoubtedly beneficial for the team. However, if Son wishes to leave, there would be no justification for Tottenham to retain him, making it likely that a solution could be reached.
[Photo] Tottenham, live score social media.
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