Ultimately, it depends on Son Heung-min (33, Tottenham Hotspur). It has been reported that Tottenham has decided to respect his wishes.
Alasdair Gold, a dedicated reporter for Tottenham at British newspaper Football London, answered various questions from fans on the 22nd (Korea time). He is well-informed about internal news at Tottenham and is considered one of the most credible journalists locally.
The discussion about Captain Son Heung-min's future was also included. A fan asked, "How likely do you think it is that Son Heung-min will leave the team this summer?"
Gold's response was, "It depends on Son Heung-min's choice." He noted, "Ultimately, Son Heung-min's future should be decided by Son Heung-min. He has dedicated 10 years to the club and earned the right to make such a decision as a legend who has lifted the club's trophy."
Gold also mentioned, "I want to say that the likelihood of Son Heung-min leaving this summer is higher than ever. However, before that, Son Heung-min needs to have a conversation with Coach Thomas Frank. So that Coach Frank can plan for the future, including Son Heung-min. If the two have not yet discussed their future, that is."
Locally in England, there is a strong belief that Son Heung-min is likely to end his 10-year journey with Tottenham this summer. This is because his contract will expire at the end of the 2025-2026 season.
For Tottenham, it is the last chance to sell Son Heung-min and secure a transfer fee, so it is said that they will let him go if he wishes to leave. Sky Sports reported, "If Son Heung-min wants a new challenge, the club will respect his choice and will enter negotiations if a satisfactory offer arrives."
Football London also stated, "We are well aware that the possibility of Captain Son Heung-min leaving Tottenham is greater than ever," and added, "After spending 10 years at Tottenham, Son Heung-min has finally achieved the championship he always aimed for. He is more open to leaving the club this summer than before, if a deal suitable for all parties is reached."
Tottenham won against Manchester United in the UEFA Europa League (UEL) final last month. This marks their first trophy in 17 years and their first European competition win in 41 years. Son Heung-min also shed tears of joy as he lifted his first trophy in his club career.
Now that Son Heung-min has fulfilled his dream, it may be the right timing for him to bids farewell to Tottenham beautifully as a legend. In reality, he started on the bench in the UEL final, and due to the effects of injuries and the aging curve, his playing time has significantly decreased this season.
Immediately after winning, Son Heung-min said, "For today, I will call myself a legend of Tottenham," expressing his feelings after achieving his long-cherished goal. Football London noted, "In an interview before the Europa League final, he admitted that the reason he stayed at Tottenham was to finally bring a trophy to the club."
Now, Tottenham is preparing for a new era with Coach Thomas Frank, who was quickly appointed after letting Ange Postecoglou go. The focus is on preparations for the future rather than lingering on the glory of the UEL victory. They are already preparing for a rebuild by pursuing transfers for players such as Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa (both Brentford), Antoine Semenyo (Bournemouth), and Arnaud Kalimuendo (Stade Rennais).
For this reason, it would not be a bad thing for Tottenham if Son Heung-min leaves and brings in a hefty fee. Naturally, Tottenham is waiting for Son Heung-min to state his position first. They have handed over the initiative for contract termination or pushing for a transfer to the player. It appears that if Son Heung-min wishes to remain, they will go together, and if he wishes to leave, they are prepared to let him go.
At the same time, interest from Saudi Arabia is heating up. According to British journalist Ben Jacobs, Al Ahli, Al Nassr, and Al Qadisiyah have prepared a substantial amount for Son Heung-min's transfer fee of 40 million euros (about 634 million won) and a total salary of 90 million euros (about 1.426 trillion won) over three years. This amount far exceeds the 30 million euros (about 475 million won) that Tottenham is demanding.
Son Heung-min also recently said after the match against Kuwait, "I am curious too. It is difficult to predict what will happen. I think it’s better to watch what will happen," leaving all possibilities open. Since Tottenham has taken a step back, it seems that the choice of whether to transfer or remain will depend on Son Heung-min. The conclusion of the 10-year journey rests in his hands.
For now, it seems that Son Heung-min's future will be determined after the Asia tour in July and August. Tottenham will visit Japan and Korea next month for preseason friendly matches. The possibility of Son Heung-min, as the top star in Asia with high marketing value, missing out on these matches is slim.
The British Times reported, "Tottenham is willing to sell Son Heung-min. However, the possibility of selling him before leaving for the preseason tour in Korea is almost none." The report added, "Tottenham activated the option to extend Son Heung-min's contract until 2026 last January. The club wanted a longer contract due to his commercial value, but Son Heung-min refused, and Tottenham extended it for another year to avoid losing him for free."
[Photo] Tottenham social media.
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