Will next month's preseason tour in Korea be the last for Son Heung-min (33) and Tottenham Hotspur? Speculation is growing that 'captain' Son could leave the team following the dismissal of manager Ange Postecoglou earlier this month.
The Spurs Web reported on the 21st (Korea time) that "European transfer market expert Fabrizio Romano highlighted the relationship between Son Heung-min and manager Postecoglou, mentioning how the sacking of Postecoglou impacted his future."
The media stated, "Looking at the many emotions on social media, it appears that many Tottenham fans have given up on the possibility of Son's departure. This speculation has intensified, especially as Thomas Frank, the new manager, did not mention Son as one of the players he would like to work with during his first interview as Tottenham's manager."
Of course, Son's transfer has not been confirmed yet. There is a possibility he could remain at Tottenham or could leave in pursuit of a new challenge at the end of his career. Having been with Tottenham for 11 years, he could also prepare for the next era alongside the newly appointed manager Frank.
Spurs Web explained, "Romano believes that legendary Son Heung-min should not give up hope of staying at Tottenham. According to him, Tottenham has not made a final decision yet. Interestingly, Son would have been guaranteed to stay if Postecoglou had not left."
However, there is an interpretation that if manager Postecoglou had remained, it is likely that Son would have stayed as well. Romano, who is known for his 'Here we go' remarks, stated, "Son's future has not yet been determined, especially from the player's side. He will need to make a decision after talking with manager Frank."
Romano also revealed a surprising story that Son could have remained 100%. He added, "If Postecoglou had stayed as Tottenham's manager, Son would always remain at Tottenham. There is strong interest in him from Saudi Arabia."
Son Heung-min led Tottenham to victory in the UEFA Europa League (UEL) as captain in the 2024-2025 season, breaking his career-long drought without a trophy. Tottenham also lifted a trophy for the first time in 17 years. The victory in a European competition is the first in 40 years.
However, Chairman Daniel Levy made the decision to fire manager Postecoglou. He praised Postecoglou's achievements but pulled the trigger due to the worst performance of 17th place in the Premier League. The Tottenham club stated, "Winning the Europa League is one of the greatest moments, but we cannot make decisions based on emotions. We thank Postecoglou and wish him well in his future endeavors."
Many fans also expressed understanding of Chairman Levy's choice, but voices of discontent are emerging within the Tottenham squad. The British 'Telegraph' reported, "Tottenham is facing a players' rebellion. Anger erupted when Postecoglou was brutally dismissed just 16 days after winning the Europa League."
The media claimed, "The sacking of Postecoglou has angered many Tottenham players. Some players want to leave the team. According to sources, the upcoming coach will face great difficulties in recovering a shattered locker room."
Son Heung-min's name was also mentioned. The Telegraph stated, "Son Heung-min has given some teammates and coaching staff the impression that he might leave Tottenham this summer. There is interest from Saudi Arabia in him," adding, "One source said that 'the players are very angry about what happened and how it was handled. The next coach will inherit a difficult situation.'"
In fact, Son expressed affection for the departing manager Postecoglou until the end. He wrote, "You knew from the beginning what we were capable of. You did it your way, and because of your approach, this club had its best night in decades. We will cherish those memories for a lifetime. Thanks to you, I have become a better player and a better person. Ange Postecoglou, you are an eternal legend of Tottenham Hotspur. Thank you, my friend."
Furthermore, manager Frank sparked transfer rumors by leaving Son Heung-min's name out in his first interview after taking over at Tottenham. He selected Dominic Solanke, Rodrigo Bentancur, and James Maddison as players he would like to work with, with both the captain Son Heung-min and vice-captain Cristian Romero absent from the list.
As a result, speculation about Son's departure is increasing. The British 'Football London' also noted, "While Frank discussed plans for veteran players, Son Heung-min and Romero were not mentioned at all." Although Son was appointed captain under manager Postecoglou and led the team for two years, his position seems to be gradually unstable.
Tottenham has stated that they will not prevent Son Heung-min if he wants to end a 10-year partnership. British 'Sky Sports' reported, "If Son desires a new challenge, the club will respect his choice. If a satisfactory offer arrives, they will negotiate."
The key is the transfer fee. Tottenham is looking for at least 30 million euros (about 47.5 billion won) for Son Heung-min. However, this amount poses no issues for Saudi clubs. According to British journalist Ben Jacobs, Al Ahli, Al Nassr, and Al Qadisiyah have prepared substantial amounts for Son’s signing, with a transfer fee of 40 million euros (about 63.4 billion won) and a total wage of 90 million euros (about 142.6 billion won) over three years.
Ultimately, Tottenham seems willing to part ways with Son in the summer if a proper offer arrives from Saudi Arabia. He will turn 33 in early July. Despite his age, he is still regarded as a world-class forward and maintains a competitive level in the Premier League. Nonetheless, the opinion that the club should not miss the last opportunity to sell Son for a hefty sum certainly carries some weight.
For now, Son Heung-min's future is expected to be finalized after completing the Asian tour in July and August. Tottenham will visit Japan and Korea next month to play preseason friendly matches. The likelihood of Son, who has high marketing value as Asia's top star, missing out on this is low.
The British 'Times' reported, "Tottenham is open to the possibility of selling Son Heung-min. However, the chances of selling him before leaving for the preseason tour to Korea are almost none," adding, "Tottenham activated the option to extend Son's contract until 2026 last January. The club wanted to secure a longer contract due to his commercial value, but Son rejected it, and Tottenham extended it by one year to avoid losing him for free."
'BBC' also noted, "The future of Son Heung-min and Tottenham remains uncertain. Several clubs in the Middle East are trying to take advantage of this opportunity," adding, "According to sources, Son may leave Tottenham before next season, but it is expected to happen after the Asian tour. If he is not with the team, there is a risk of significant issues arising related to the tour's organizers. Son is set to play a commercially significant role in Tottenham's tour."
[Photo] ⓒGettyimages (Unauthorized reproduction and redistribution prohibited), Tottenham, Premier League social media.
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