Will Tottenham Hotspur sign a big winger this summer? There are growing calls to bring in a new starting player to replace Son Heung-min (33).

The British public broadcaster BBC said on the 27th (Korean time), "Which position should Tottenham strengthen?" as it predicted Tottenham's summer transfer market moves ahead of the 2025-2026 season.

First, the media pointed out, "Tottenham secured their place in the UEFA Champions League by winning the Europa League. This greatly benefited the club's finances. However, it also means that in order to gain an advantage in competition with elite European clubs, strengthening the squad is necessary."

Tottenham lifted the championship trophy by defeating Manchester United 1-0 in the UEFA Europa League (UEL) final last month. As a result, despite falling to 17th in the Premier League, they secured a ticket to the UEFA Champions League (UCL) for the upcoming season. Given that they will be competing on Europe's top stage, squad reinforcement is essential.

Tottenham has just appointed Thomas Frank as their new manager, so they are not yet actively moving. It has only been two weeks since chairman Daniel Levy dismissed Ange Postecoglou and brought in manager Frank.

The only signings so far have been the permanent acquisitions of forward Mathys Tel and center-back Kevin Danso, who performed on loan in the second half of last season. Although center-back Luka Buskovic, born in 2007, is expected to join, he is more of a resource for the future than for the present. BBC also noted, "The only player who has arrived, Buskovic, is unlikely to jump into first-team competition. Instead, he could go out on loan."

Son Heung-min's name was also mentioned. The media pointed out, "Tottenham is connected to the consolidation of Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo. Considering Son Heung-min's declining skills and Wilson Odoever's relative lack of experience, it would not be surprising to sign a goalscoring winger."

Finally, the BBC added, "Tottenham may need reinforcement in the midfield. Rodrigo Bentancur and Yves Bissouma are entering the last year of their contracts. However, Frank is a long-time fan of Archie Gray and could utilize him as a midfielder. The 19-year-old Gray largely played as a makeshift defender in his debut season with Tottenham but looks to have a brighter future ahead."

Son Heung-min is a legend who has played solely for Tottenham since 2015. He has grown into a world-class forward, recording 173 goals and 101 assists in 454 matches for Tottenham. He has also won the Premier League Golden Boot and the FIFA Puskás Award.

However, there are growing assessments that Son Heung-min, who is nearing 33, has entered the 'aging curve.' Last season, he recorded 11 goals and 12 assists across all competitions, with 7 goals and 10 assists in the Premier League. Considering Tottenham's poor performance and Son Heung-min's injury impact, it's not an awful record, but it broke his consecutive eight-season streak of scoring double digits in the league that started from the 2016-2017 season.

Naturally, there are claims that the time for Son Heung-min and Tottenham to part ways has come. The BBC pointed out that with Son Heung-min's form declining, there is a need to sign a winger who can take responsibility for scoring in his place.

Ian Darke, who works as a commentator for BBC and ESPN, has described Son Heung-min as "more of a marketing brand than a superstar in his prime," offering a candid assessment.

In particular, there are many concerns that Son Heung-min lacks the pace to remain competitive in the Premier League. Christian Worry, who played as a winger for both Tottenham and the England national team, said, "Son Heung-min was a loyal player at Tottenham, and he seems like a great person. He is one of the most respected football players on the pitch. But every player has their individual shelf life," calling for a 'beautiful farewell.'

He also noted, "If Son Heung-min were playing in another European league, he might have a few more years left. But the Premier League is fast, physical, and demanding. Fresh legs are needed," and added, "Honestly, Son Heung-min had a tough season and couldn't keep up with the pace of the Premier League."

Of course, he did not criticize Son Heung-min's dedication and skill. Worry emphasized, "However, if Son Heung-min goes abroad, I think he would fit in well. He has had a great career at Tottenham. He deserves all the applause, and I think everyone will wish him good luck. But like I said, when you reach your 30s, sometimes you have to accept when it's time to move on and move to what’s next."

He pointed out that Tottenham should treat Son Heung-min as a legend. Worry said, "Realistically, Tottenham might want Son Heung-min to go to Saudi Arabia for a good price. However, it would be better for him to transfer freely to France, Italy, Germany, or Spain. I don't think Tottenham should block his path," advising against being greedy for a high transfer fee.

The newly appointed Frank also sparked rumors by leaving Son Heung-min's name out of his first interview with Tottenham. He listed Dominic Solanke, Rodrigo Bentancur, and James Maddison as players he wants to work with, leaving out captain Son Heung-min and vice-captain Cristian Romero, both of whom are embroiled in transfer speculation.

Son Heung-min had a nearly nonexistent presence in the introduction video for Tottenham's new uniform. Tottenham recently revealed the Nike black away uniform for the next season. The slogan is 'In Darkness We Dare.' Tottenham explained, "The dramatic all-black design creates a sleek silhouette fit. It is designed for speed and stealth."

Captain Son Heung-min served as a main model for the uniform alongside Guglielmo Vicario, Jed Spence, and Dominic Solanke. However, his role in the introduction video was minimal. He appeared for just over 1 second at the beginning of a video lasting over 70 seconds while wearing a mask. Considering his status as captain, it's unusual for Son Heung-min to be captured for such a short time on camera.

This is naturally interpreted in conjunction with the transfer rumors surrounding Son Heung-min. While it could also be seen as simple video editing, it is read as one of the factors hinting at his future. In fact, Tottenham has already completed the permanent signing of Mathys Tel and is targeting new second-line resources like Bryan Mbeumo (Brentford), Antoine Semenyo (Bournemouth), and Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace).

British 'Football London' also reported, "Tottenham's new Nike away kit for the 2025-2026 season has been revealed. It also hinted at Son Heung-min's transfer, stating, 'We cannot be sure if Son Heung-min will wear this kit next season. We know he is more ready than ever to leave the team.'"

Additionally, the media noted, "YouTuber and Tottenham fan Danny Aarons is also one of the cameo appearances. Son Heung-min appeared briefly in the video. As Thomas Frank takes over as manager, Son Heung-min will face crucial weeks ahead. If he leaves, Frank may need to handle the captaincy switch, similar to how Ange Postecoglou, the former manager, did. There is interest in him from the Saudi Pro League."

Currently, Son Heung-min is receiving calls from Saudi Arabia. According to British journalist Ben Jacobs, Al Ahli, Al Nassr, and Al Qadisiya are preparing to offer a huge transfer fee of 40 million euros (about 63.4 billion won) and total wages of 90 million euros (about 142.6 billion won) over three years for Son Heung-min's transfer.

For now, it seems that Son Heung-min and manager Frank will decide on the future in August. British 'TBR Football' reported, "From what we've gathered, Frank has no intention of blocking Son Heung-min's path. He has informed the club that he is willing for Son Heung-min to be sold. They are expected to discuss his future when he returns for preseason. For now, Son Heung-min is expected to remain with the team until Tottenham's Asian tour."

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