Tottenham Hotspur symbol Son Heung-min (33) has reached a new crossroads. As analyses suggest that his 10-year journey, crowned with a UEFA Europa League win, is nearing its end, the club is intensifying plans for 'post-Son Heung-min'.

Local media in the UK have focused on his transfer rumors since the 19th (Korean time). The Mirror reported, "Tottenham has set Son Heung-min's transfer fee at about $25 million (approximately 46.1 billion won), and the possibility of him leaving the team is becoming a reality." Other outlets such as Football London, Goal.com, and Football FanCast have also suggested that Son Heung-min's departure from Tottenham is imminent.

Notably, the club emerging as a potential destination is none other than Turkey's prestigious Fenerbahçe SK. Local media and journalist Yagız Sabuncuoğlu reported, "Son Heung-min has conducted a direct interview with coach Taxes Mourinho and has shown openness to moving to Fenerbahçe." The two built a relationship during their time together at Tottenham from 2019 to 2021, with 70 matches, 29 goals, and 25 assists. Under Mourinho's management, Son Heung-min recorded his first Premier League hat-trick.

Fenerbahçe is strengthening its squad to secure a spot in the UEFA Champions League group stage. Coach Mourinho has made Son Heung-min a top target, and reports indicate that a transfer fee of about $30 million (approximately 47.4 billion won) is required. With multiple clubs from Saudi Arabia also entering the fray, the future of Son Heung-min is becoming more complicated.

Meanwhile, Tottenham has also begun efforts to acquire a successor in anticipation of Son Heung-min's potential departure. A prominent candidate is Mohammed Kudus (25) from West Ham United. According to Football FanCast, Tottenham is preparing a transfer offer of about $50 million (approximately 92.9 billion won) for Kudus, which is analyzed as a strategic choice to fill Son Heung-min's void.

Kudus scored 19 goals across all competitions last season, establishing himself in the English league. He is regarded as an attacking midfielder capable of creating space through dribbling and physicality, as well as being adept at breaking through pressure. The Guardian described him as a "generational talent" and characterized him as a resource with "stronger physicality than Phil Foden, versatility, and pressure contribution capabilities."

Furthermore, the club is also linked with winger Bryan Mbeumo, who hails from Brentford, while Eberechi Eze of Crystal Palace is being mentioned as a candidate to replace Son Heung-min. Notably, Eze caught the attention of big clubs with his winning goal in the FA Cup final, and claims have arisen that Tottenham is showing interest. However, if Palace qualifies for European competition, transfer negotiations may be delayed.

The moves of newly appointed coach Thomas Frank also weigh on Son Heung-min's future. In a recent interview, he mentioned names such as Dominic Solanke, James Maddison, and Rodrigo Bentancur but avoided referring to key leaders like Son Heung-min and Cristian Romero. Some media interpreted this as indicating that "internal discussions about the possibility of transfers may have already taken place."

Son Heung-min remains a special figure to Tottenham fans. Since leaving Bayer 04 Leverkusen in 2015 and entering North London, he has recorded 173 goals and 101 assists over 454 matches in 10 seasons, intertwining his history with that of Tottenham. The Europa League title in May was his first major trophy with the team and the club's first championship in 17 years.

Time is passing. Age and injuries, team restructuring, and tactical changes under Coach Frank all contribute to the evaluation that Son Heung-min is no longer demonstrating the explosiveness of his prime. The club is choosing a new course labeled as rebuilding.

Now the choice is up to Son Heung-min. Will he remain to add to his historical legacy or begin the final chapter of his career on a new stage with Mourinho? This decision transcends a simple transfer; it marks a significant junction announcing both the end of an era and the start of another.

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