Under the regime of new Tottenham Hotspur head coach Thomas Frank, Son Heung-min's position is becoming uncertain. It has been consistently suggested in the UK that under Coach Frank's plans, Son may face increased competition for a starting position.
Tottenham officially announced on the 13th (Korea time) that it has signed a contract with Coach Frank until 2028, marking a new beginning. Recognized for his leadership at Brentford, Coach Frank immediately began the restructuring of Tottenham's squad and initiated significant team reforms. In particular, it is expected that player signings compatible with his style will actively proceed in this summer's transfer market.
In this context, the British media outlet "TalkSport" gained significant attention on the 15th by revealing the anticipated new starting lineup for Tottenham under Coach Frank. Based on a 4-2-3-1 formation, the expected lineup showed substantial differences from previous plans.
Dominic Solanke has been positioned as the foremost striker, while Jack Grealish, Dejan Kulusevski, and Bryan Mbeumo filled the second line. The midfield consists of Archie Gray and Rodrigo Bentancur, while the defense includes Destiny Udoji, Kevin Danso, Micky van de Ven, and Pedro Porro. It is expected that Guglielmo Vicario will guard the goal.
The most notable aspect was the absence of Son Heung-min's name. In the side striker position, which he previously occupied, Grealish has been placed. TalkSport reported that "Tottenham has shown interest in signing Grealish, who has lost his position at Manchester City recently," and assessed that "Grealish is a player who can provide a different option for Tottenham."
Grealish transferred to Manchester City for a fee of €117.5 million (182 billion won) during the 2021-2022 season but has since struggled to meet expectations. As time passed, his time on the bench increased significantly as he fell behind in competition with Jeremy Doku, Phil Foden, and Fabinho. Ultimately, he experienced the humiliation of being excluded from the club World Cup roster this season, further diminishing his standing.
In the past, the connection between Tottenham and Grealish was often dismissed as unfounded rumors. However, recent developments have increasingly added to its plausibility. Ben Jacobs, a transfer market insider appearing on the Tottenham-focused podcast "Last Word on Spurs," noted that "Tottenham's interest in signing Grealish is real. However, negotiations could be quite complex."
It is still unclear whether Tottenham can actually bring Grealish on board, but concerns regarding Son Heung-min's position are gradually increasing. British outlet "Football London" also revealed Coach Frank's expected best XI, excluding Son from the list.
With Coach Frank's appointment, the football world is focused on what role Son Heung-min will play in the newly restructured offensive plans at Tottenham.
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