Could Son Heung-min (33) be concluding his 10-year relationship with Tottenham Hotspur? There are growing claims that he might reunite with former Tottenham manager José Mourinho in Turkey.
British outlet 'Yard Barker' reported on the 15th (Korea time): "Tottenham star Son Heung-min is ready to leave the team. He has received an offer that is hard to refuse and is very close to an agreement."
The outlet reported, "Son Heung-min has been linked to leaving the club for several months. He seems likely to leave Tottenham this summer," adding, "According to the report, Son Heung-min's contract with Fenerbahçe in Turkey is very imminent. He has received an offer that is too good to refuse.
Fenerbahçe is currently managed by Mourinho. There is also a connection with Son Heung-min. He led Tottenham for about 17 months from November 2019 to April 2021, during which time he had a mentor-mentee relationship with Son Heung-min.
At that time, manager Mourinho maximized Son Heung-min's scoring ability through counter-attacking football. Son Heung-min recorded 18 goals and 12 assists in 41 official games during the 2019-2020 season, and had a remarkable performance again in the 2020-2021 season with 22 goals and 18 assists in 51 games. Under Mourinho's regime, his individual statistics reached 29 goals and 25 assists in 70 matches. The two have also shown deep affection for each other.
The chances of Son Heung-min leaving Tottenham this summer are increasing. This is because his contract expires at the end of the 2025-2026 season. It is also Tottenham's last chance to sell Son Heung-min and make a transfer fee, so it is said they are willing to let him go if he wants to leave.
British outlet 'Football London' also reported, "We are well aware that captain Son Heung-min is more likely than ever to leave Tottenham. After spending 10 years with Tottenham and achieving the championship he always aimed for, he is now more open to leaving the club this summer if a suitable contract is reached for all parties."
Tottenham won the UEFA Europa League (UEL) final last month by defeating Manchester United. It was the club's first trophy in 17 years and the first European competition win in 41 years. Son Heung-min also shed tears of joy as he lifted the trophy for the first time in his club career.
Now, with his dream fulfilled, Son Heung-min may leave Tottenham as a legend. In fact, he started on the bench in the UEL final, and due to the impact of injuries and an aging curve this season, his playing time has significantly decreased. Football London noted, "In an interview conducted before the Europa League final, he admitted that the reason for remaining at Tottenham was to finally bring a trophy to the club."
Son Heung-min has also received keen interest from Saudi Arabia. Clubs such as Al Nassr, Al Ittihad, and Al Hilal, backed by the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), are reported to be interested in him. American outlet 'ESPN' stated, "The summer transfer market for the Saudi league opens on July 20. The 32-year-old South Korean national team's forward Son Heung-min is expected to be one of the many targets."
Among them, Al Nassr seems keen on Son Heung-min. British outlet 'The Sun' claimed, "Son Heung-min has the chance to transfer to multiple clubs in the Saudi Professional League. Sources say Tottenham is considering selling him if a substantial offer comes in, stating that Al Nassr is eyeing Son Heung-min as a successor to Cristiano Ronaldo and is already in the practical process of recruitment."
Two years ago, Son Heung-min received a tremendous offer from Al Ittihad. It was reported that Al Ittihad prepared a staggering annual salary of €30 million (approximately 46.5 billion won) for him and a total of €120 million (approximately 186.1 billion won) over four years. Nevertheless, at that time, Son Heung-min referenced a remark from Ki Sung-yueng (FC Seoul), stating, "The captain of the Republic of Korea's national team doesn't go to China," and emphasized, "Money is not important right now. What matters is playing in a league I enjoy."
But now, things are different. Son Heung-min himself has not closed the door on the possibility of moving to Saudi Arabia. After a recent match against Kuwait, he said, "I still have a contract period left. It is not appropriate to say anything here right now," while also adding, "Now it is right to wait. I am curious too. It is difficult to predict what will happen. I think it is better to see what unfolds," providing a different answer than two years ago.
Amidst this situation, the possibility of moving to Turkey has emerged rapidly. Fenerbahçe, where Mourinho is managing, is actively pursuing the acquisition of Son Heung-min. Turkish local reporter Yavuz Sabuncuoğlu claimed, "Son Heung-min has opened his heart to the transfer to Fenerbahçe following a positive meeting with manager Mourinho." Notably, it is reported that the after-tax salary promised to Son Heung-min is an astonishing amount of €12 million (approximately 18.9 billion won) per season.
'Yard Barker' stated, "Son Heung-min might reunite with Mourinho at a Turkish club. It will also be interesting to see if Tottenham can adequately replace him, as Son Heung-min has been an exceptional player for Tottenham. He will undoubtedly remain a legend at the club."
Additionally, the outlet noted, "Son Heung-min has not maintained the best condition over the past 12 months. Now may be the right time for Tottenham to let him go and bring in promising players for the future. We still need to see how the situation unfolds," adding that "Son Heung-min is still an excellent player with tremendous experience and leadership. He will be a great acquisition."
In conclusion, 'Yard Barker' remarked, "Son Heung-min is reported to find it difficult to refuse the financial and sporting aspects of the Fenerbahçe proposal. He is ready for a new challenge and it seems likely that he will now take off the Tottenham uniform. It is clear that if Son Heung-min leaves, Tottenham will miss him next season. He has been an indispensable asset for several years."
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