The possibility of Son Heung-min's return, the scenario of returning to Bayer Leverkusen is surging… Is it a crossroads between staying in Europe or heading to the Middle East?

Son Heung-min (33, Tottenham Hotspur) is at a significant crossroads regarding his future. Amid astronomical offers from Saudi Arabia and a love call from taxes Mourinho, Bayer Leverkusen, which once elevated his European career, has emerged as a return card, creating another variable.

TalkSport reported on the 17th (Korean time) that "Bundesliga Bayer Leverkusen began contact with Son Heung-min's camp since May," adding that "the European stage remains an attractive option for Son Heung-min, who is preparing for the upcoming 2026 FIFA North and Central America World Cup." Transfer market expert Ben Jacobs also noted, "Leverkusen has not yet made an official offer, but internal discussions about the possibility of a return are actively underway."

The partnership between Tottenham and Son Heung-min is heading towards completion. The current contract has one year remaining, and for Tottenham, this summer is essentially the last opportunity to recover a transfer fee. Son Heung-min is also evaluated to have fulfilled his duties as team captain after lifting the UEFA Europa League trophy in May.

This transfer market, Son Heung-min is linked with multiple clubs. Numerous overseas clubs, including Fenerbahce, Al Ahli, and Al Nassr, are showing interest in Son Heung-min, and there are reports that a transfer fee of about 40 million euros (63.3 billion won) has been set in Saudi Arabia. In particular, Fenerbahce approached with conditions to guarantee Son Heung-min's current salary level of 19 billion won, and it is known that taxes Mourinho had direct conversations, showing a compelling movement.

However, Son Heung-min still seems to lean towards staying in the European arena. In a recent interview, he expressed a cautious stance, stating, "At this point, waiting is the right judgment." Compared to his previous comments about the Saudi Arabia transfer rumors, where he drew the line by saying, "The assertion of our country does not go to the Middle East," it is a clear change in tone.

If Son Heung-min returns to Leverkusen, he may follow a similar route to Park Ji-sung in the latter stages of his European career. Park Ji-sung returned to PSV Eindhoven, his first European team, after passing through Manchester United and QPR to prepare for the end of his career. For Son Heung-min, Leverkusen is the team that laid the foundation for his significant growth after moving to Europe, making it a choice that can consider both emotional ties and practical judgment.

Leverkusen finished the 2024-2025 season in 2nd place in the German Bundesliga, securing a spot in the UEFA Champions League for the next season. This is also the only realistic option for Son Heung-min to participate in the UCL stage, which could potentially be his last. The Saudi Arabian league is somewhat disadvantageous in terms of skill maintenance and national team competition, and Fenerbahce is also in a situation where it cannot guarantee participation in the UCL.

Of course, Leverkusen is also undergoing changes. Last season, manager Xabi Alonso, who wrote the 'undefeated championship' myth, moved to Real Madrid, and key resources in the team, such as Florian Wirtz and starting defender Jonathan Tah, have confirmed transfers to Liverpool and Bayern Munich, respectively. Although squad restructuring is inevitable, Swiss national team player and veteran midfielder Granit Xhaka is holding the fort, so expectations for synergy with Son Heung-min remain high.

However, there are also obstacles to the return. Son Heung-min experienced psychological hardships due to repeated racism while playing in Germany in the past. The analysis that unpleasant memories remaining in the German stage could influence the actual decision on his return is gaining credibility.

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