The farewell gesture that Tottenham Hotspur extends to Son Heung-min (33) is indeed harsh.
The British outlet 'Football London' recently reported that more than half of fans in a poll supported Son's transfer. The perspective on the franchise star is becoming increasingly realistic and cold. Son has scored 7 goals and provided 13 assists in the Premier League this season, but the prevailing view is that his influence within the team is no longer what it used to be. Local expert Jamie O'Hara remarked, “Son Heung-min is no longer the player of the past. His leadership and influence have disappeared.”
Tottenham's club operation is also at a crossroads. Following the dismissal of coach Ange Postecoglou right after winning the Europa League, the locker room fell into chaos, and Son is reported to have hinted at the possibility of a transfer to some teammates and coaching staff. The club activated only a one-year option rather than a re-signing, and reports indicate that several clubs in Saudi Arabia are in contact with Son, offering him a hefty sum.
Discussions surrounding Son Heung-min's future also include the keyword 'brand.' Tottenham has generated substantial revenue over the years with tours featuring Son. However, the club has sent signals that it no longer views him as 'the center of the future' by reducing his prominence in this season's preseason content. In interviews, he was not even mentioned by name, and he has been excluded from new coach Thomas Frank's plans.
The timing of the transfer is also a significant issue. Ahead of a friendly match in Seoul in August, Son is being utilized as a key marketing asset, and Tottenham plans to conduct transfer discussions only after the tour ends. Ultimately, Son has remained an out-of-squad resource and a marketing face, which shows that the club sees him merely as an ‘asset to be sold when possible.’
However, now the atmosphere of 'let's sell when we can' is openly spreading both inside and outside the club. The results of a local poll are quite shocking and symbolic. In Football London’s survey on Son Heung-min’s transfer, 57% of respondents supported his transfer, while 22% were conditionally in favor. 'Absolute support for remaining' was only at 21%.
Opinions within Football London were sharply divided. First, Sam Truelove said, "Everything depends on Son Heung-min. He has the right to choose whether to stay for another year or leave after 10 years. However, I believe he should stay for another year," adding, "We must not underestimate Son’s leadership. In the situation where coach Ange Postecoglou has left, his experience will be very valuable."
Matthew Abbott echoed similar sentiments. He said, "Having Son stay at Tottenham next season is more valuable than any transfer fee received from selling the captain this summer. Holding onto him to see if he can regain his form will be worth the gamble. Just like Mohamed Salah recently, it could lead to a new contract."
Tottenham veterans are calling for a 'beautiful farewell' for Son Heung-min. Chris Waddle, who played as a winger for both Tottenham and the England national team, stated, "All players have their selling deadlines. If Son had been playing in another European league, he might have had several years left. But the Premier League is fast, physical, and demanding. Frankly, he has not kept up with the pace."
Jamie O'Hara, a former midfielder for Tottenham, shares similar thoughts. He noted, "If a big opportunity arises, I would let Son leave. I think he has reached his peak as a top-level player. Maybe he should go to a slightly slower league," adding, "Now, the Premier League is too fast for Son. He has lost his speed."
The situation within Tottenham is no different. It has been reported that new coach Thomas Frank has excluded Son from next season's starting plans, and he was indeed absent from the list of key players. This illustrates that Son is no longer the tactical core of the team but merely a commercial image.
Son Heung-min remains a legend and pride for fans in Korea and at Tottenham. However, the current Tottenham does not even respect the way it lets him go. The club’s attitude, coldly calculating without emotion, ultimately proves the answer to 'why Tottenham cannot become a big club.'
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia is being mentioned as Son Heung-min’s next destination. According to British journalist Ben Jacobs, Al Ahli, Al Nassr, and Al Qadisiyah have prepared a significant sum, reportedly 40 million euros (approximately 63.4 billion won) for the transfer fee and a total wage of 90 million euros (approximately 142.6 billion won) for three years. There are many expectations that Son, who firmly rejected Saudi Arabia two years ago, might make a different choice this time.
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