"It's time to make a decision." Voices recommending a 'cold but necessary farewell' for Son Heung-min (33, Tottenham) have emerged in the UK.
The British outlet Team Talk reported on the 30th (Korea time), citing comments from Dan Kilpatrick, the chief editor of The Athletic, stating that "Tottenham Hotspur has reached the appropriate time to allow Son Heung-min's transfer."
Son Heung-min is undeniably the symbol of football in Korea. He is regarded as one of the best legends across Asia and has recorded a total of 173 goals at Tottenham, making him the fifth highest scorer in the club's history. He follows Harry Kane (280 goals), Jimmy Greaves (268 goals), Bobby Smith (208 goals), and Martin Chivers (174 goals).
His assist record in the Premier League is also the all-time leader. Since wearing the Tottenham jersey, he has recorded 77 assists in the league, the highest figure in the club's history.
With the UEFA Europa League trophy in hand last May, Son Heung-min finally embraced his first major trophy at Tottenham. However, contrary to the club's glory, Son's personal season was not easy. He struggled with injuries, scoring only 11 goals in 46 matches, marking the lowest tally since his first season in North London.
Dan Kilpatrick commented, "Son Heung-min has now lifted a trophy, and there is only one year left on his contract. Last season was clearly a downward trend. Considering the overall issues within the team, he was not the Son we knew before."
He added, "After the Korean tour, sending Son Heung-min in the summer transfer market may be a wise choice for everyone involved. The key is 'after that.' There will be no transfers before the tour."
In fact, Tottenham is set to hold a pre-season tour in Korea in mid-July. Son Heung-min remains a key figure in the club's marketing in the Asian market and is a symbolic presence. Even if a transfer occurs, the timing is likely to be after the tour.
Meanwhile, Kilpatrick also mentioned the status of Cristian Romero. He stated, "Romero is a World Cup-winning captain and a rare leader within Tottenham. Transferring him now could send a bad message," adding, "With only two years left on the contract, the club will have no choice but to consider good offers this summer."
He explained that "Romero has shown leadership in the UEFA Europa League, and there aren't many players like him at Tottenham. Losing this player is a risk," describing the club's dilemma.
In this way, with both Son Heung-min and Romero, two key resources, Tottenham finds itself at another significant crossroads. Following a glorious season, there is keen interest in what decision the club will make.
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