Could Son Heung-min (33) leave Tottenham Hotspur for Turkey after ten years? There are reports that José Mourinho, who leads the 'prestigious' Turkish club Fenerbahçe, strongly wants his 'former disciple' Son Heung-min. Ultimately, it all depends on Son Heung-min's choice.
British media 'Yard Barker' reported on the 15th (Korea time) that "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 media noted, "Son Heung-min has been connected to leaving the club for the past few months. He is expected to leave Tottenham this summer," and said, "According to reports, Son Heung-min is on the verge of signing with Turkish Fenerbahçe. He has received an offer too good to decline."
Son Heung-min's chances of leaving Tottenham this summer are increasing. His contract expires at the end of the 2025-2026 season. Therefore, if he wants to leave, Tottenham is reportedly willing to let him go as it would be their last chance to sell him and collect a transfer fee.
British 'Football London' also reported, "We are well aware that captain Son Heung-min is more likely to leave Tottenham than ever before," adding, "After spending 10 years at Tottenham and achieving the championship he always aimed for, he is more open to leaving the club this summer if a suitable deal is made for all parties."
Tottenham won the UEFA Europa League (UEL) final last month, defeating Manchester United. This victory marked the end of a 17-year trophy drought and a victory in European competition for the first time 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 that Son Heung-min has fulfilled his dream, he may be leaving Tottenham as a legend. In reality, he has seen a significant reduction in playing time this season due to injury and aging, starting on the bench in the UEL final. Football London noted, "In an interview conducted before the Europa League final, he acknowledged that his reason for staying at Tottenham was finally to bring a trophy to the club."
Son Heung-min has also received significant interest from Saudi Arabia. Clubs like Al Nassr, Al Ittihad, and Al Hilal, backed by the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), are reported to want Son Heung-min. U.S. 'ESPN' stated, "The summer transfer market 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 the many targets."
During the summer of 2023, Son Heung-min received an enormous offer from Al Ittihad. Nevertheless, he mentioned the words of Ki Sung-yueng (FC Seoul), stating, "The captain of the South Korean national team does not go to China," adding, "Right now, money is not important. What matters is playing in a league I enjoy." However, recently he said, "Now, it's right to wait. I am also curious. It is difficult to predict what will happen. It seems better to watch what will happen," showing a different response from two years ago.
Clearly, Son Heung-min's attitude towards transfer rumors has changed significantly over the past two years. Meanwhile, the possibility of a move to Turkey is rising sharply. Fenerbahçe, under Mourinho, is reportedly actively pursuing Son Heung-min.
Local Turkish journalist Yağız Sabuncuoğlu claimed, "After a positive meeting with coach Mourinho, Son Heung-min has opened his heart to a transfer to Fenerbahçe," particularly noting that Son Heung-min has reportedly been promised a post-tax annual salary of 12 million euros (about 18.9 billion won), an enormous amount.
Mourinho and Son Heung-min had a mentor-student relationship at Tottenham from November 2019 to April 2021. During that time, Son Heung-min scored 29 goals and assisted 25 times in 70 matches within Mourinho's counter-attacking style, showcasing his scoring ability. Both have expressed deep affection for each other. It is only natural that Mourinho, who wants to win while beating rivals Galatasaray, dreams of reuniting with Son Heung-min.
'Yard Barker' emphasized, "Son Heung-min is reportedly finding it hard to refuse the financial and sports aspects of the Fenerbahçe offer. He is ready to take on a new challenge and now looks increasingly likely to take off his Tottenham jersey. If Son Heung-min leaves, it is clear that Tottenham will miss him next season. He has been an indispensable asset for several years."
Now the choice is up to Son Heung-min. British 'Sky Sports' reported, "Captain Son Heung-min has recently acknowledged that his future at Tottenham is uncertain this summer. He has one year left on his contract, and Tottenham is expected to give Son Heung-min the final decision-making power if a suitable offer is received."
The transfer fee is unlikely to pose a significant problem. According to Turkish 'NTV Spor,' Tottenham is asking for 30 million euros (about 47.2 billion won) for Son Heung-min's market value. Considering Son Heung-min's stature, this is by no means an unreasonable demand.
What is clear is that even if Son Heung-min leaves for Turkey now, he will forever be a legend at Tottenham. Yard Barker also stated, "Son Heung-min could reunite with Mourinho at a Turkish club. It will be interesting to see if Tottenham can adequately replace him. Son Heung-min has been a fantastic player for Tottenham. He will undoubtedly remain a legend of the club."
The media also mentioned, "Son Heung-min has not been able to maintain his best condition over the past 12 months. It could be the right time for Tottenham to let him go and bring in a promising player for the future. While we still have to see how things unfold, Son Heung-min remains an excellent player with tremendous experience and leadership. He would be a great addition."
[Photo] Sky Sports, gdh Sports, Tottenham 433, 365 Scores social media.
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