Tottenham Hotspur has decided not to secure Son Heung-min (33) first. The key to determining the end of their 10 years together ultimately rests with Son himself.
Alasdair Gold, Tottenham's dedicated reporter for the British outlet 'Football London,' responded to several questions from fans on the 22nd (Korean time). He is well-versed in internal news about Tottenham and is considered one of the most credible journalists locally.
Gold responded to the question, "How likely do you think Son Heung-min is to leave the team this summer?" by saying that the decision is up to Son. He stated, "Ultimately, Son Heung-min must decide his future. He has devoted 10 years to the club and has earned the right to do so as a legend who has lifted trophies for the club."
Furthermore, Gold expressed, "I want to say the likelihood of Son Heung-min leaving this summer is higher than ever. However, before that, Son must have a conversation with Manager Thomas Frank, so he can plan for the future, including Son. If they have not yet discussed the future, that is."
The meeting between Son Heung-min and Manager Frank is expected to be important. 'Football London' emphasized, "Son and Frank need to have an honest conversation about how much the captain wants to leave the team, and if Son stays, what plans Frank has for him. As a legend, Son must decide his fate, but Frank's usage and opinions will also play an important role."
Locally in the UK, there is increasing weight on the possibility of Son Heung-min parting ways with Tottenham. His contract expires at the end of the 2025-2026 season. Unless he extends his contract, this summer is the last opportunity to receive a transfer fee.
'Sky Sports' reported, "If Son Heung-min wants a new challenge, Tottenham is ready to follow his wishes." 'Football London' also explained, "Having achieved the goal of winning, Son Heung-min is now open to leaving the club."
Son Heung-min and Tottenham won against Manchester United in the UEFA Europa League (UEL) final last month, lifting the trophy. It was Tottenham's first trophy in 17 years and the first win in Son's career. As a captain, he led the team to victory, shedding tears of joy.
Consequently, there is growing evaluation that it is the right time for Son Heung-min to part ways with Tottenham. Having started on the bench for the final, his playing time has decreased due to injury effects and aging curves. After the game, Son exclaimed, "For today, you can call me a Tottenham legend," and 'Football London' remarked that "Son admitted in an interview preceding the final that he stayed with the team for the trophy."
With the joy of victory behind them, Tottenham is preparing for a new era. Chairman Daniel Levy dismissed Manager Ange Postecoglou and appointed Manager Thomas Frank, initiating a major rebuilding process. Tottenham is already pursuing the acquisition of attacking assets such as Bryan Mbeumo, Yoane Wissa, Antoine Semenyo, and Arnaut Danjuma.
Naturally, the possibility of Son Heung-min leaving Tottenham as part of a generational change is also increasing. Tottenham believes that if the veteran Son were to leave for a large transfer fee, they would respect his wishes. This essentially hands the decision-making power to Son.
Son Heung-min has also hinted that he may end his 10-year journey with Tottenham. After recently finishing the match against Kuwait, he stated, "I am curious too. I think it’s better to watch and see what happens," leaving all possibilities open. This was a stark contrast to his firm denial of transfer rumors to Saudi Arabia two years ago.
'Football Insider' stated, "Son Heung-min has had the most successful contract with Tottenham over the past 10 years. He joined as a relatively less known player, but he became a member of the Europa League winning side and remains a great player for the club," adding, "Son scoring 11 goals in 41 games last season means he still has a lot to offer. However, Frank is considering Mbeumo, Wissa, and Semenyo's acquisition, so if Son stays, it may be challenging to guarantee his playing time."
Currently, Son Heung-min is receiving great interest from Saudi Arabia. According to British journalist Ben Jacobson, Al Ahli, Al Nassr, and Al Qadsiah are preparing substantial fees for Son's transfer, including a transfer fee of 40 million euros (approximately 63.4 billion won) and total wages of 90 million euros (approximately 1.426 trillion won) over three years. This amount far exceeds Tottenham's demand of 30 million euros (approximately 47.5 billion won).
For now, Tottenham is in a situation where they cannot stop Son Heung-min's transfer for practical reasons. However, Tottenham's preseason schedule is also a crucial variable. Tottenham is set to visit Japan and Korea next month for friendly matches. As Asia's top star, it is a situation where Son, who has high marketing value, cannot be absent.
The British 'Times' also reported that "Tottenham is willing to sell Son Heung-min. However, there is little chance of selling him before leaving for the preseason tour in Korea." They 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 rejected it, and Tottenham chose to extend it by one year to avoid losing him for free."
Thus, Son Heung-min's future is expected to be determined after Tottenham's Asia tour concludes in mid-August. For Tottenham, there is no reason to finalize Son's future before completing the tour. Ultimately, both Tottenham and Son will need to carefully consider their futures, even at the risk of other teams wanting him.
[Photo] ⓒGettyimages (all rights reserved), Tottenham, Spurs Corner social media.
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