Son Heung-min (33, Tottenham) is in concrete negotiations regarding a transfer to Major League Soccer (MLS) in the United States. Los Angeles FC (LA FC) has initiated serious efforts to acquire Son Heung-min.
The British 'TBR Football' reported exclusively on the 3rd (Korean time) that "LA FC has discussed a move to the United States with Tottenham Hotspur captain Son Heung-min. Now, the club is pushing for a stunning contract to bring Son Heung-min to BMO Stadium."
New coach Thomas Frank is open regarding Son Heung-min's transfer. However, the final decision will be made by Son Heung-min himself. According to the media, Son Heung-min is open to collaborating with Coach Frank, but plans to decide his future through direct conversations after returning from preseason.
Currently, the interest in Son Heung-min is not only from MLS but also continues in the Saudi Arabia Professional League. Ahead of the summer transfer market, Son Heung-min’s options are expanding.
In particular, LA has secured a 'designated player (DP)' slot for acquiring Son Heung-min. This is a special slot for high-salaried players exceeding the league salary cap, which is a necessary condition considering Son Heung-min's weekly salary of £190,000 (approximately 350 million won). Recently, Olivier Giroud's transfer to Ligue 1 Lille opened up one slot, and LA has two out of three DP slots available, so there is no problem in acquiring Son Heung-min.
Son Heung-min has been recorded as the first captain of Tottenham to lift the UEFA Europa League trophy since Ledley King (League Cup winner in 2008), bringing the club its first major trophy. Some analysts say it is a perfect time for him to leave as a legend.
TBR Football noted that "Son Heung-min must leave Tottenham this summer," stating, "It's an opportunity to say goodbye at the peak moment as a legend. He recorded 21 attacking points last season, but his explosiveness and finishing are not what they used to be."
It added that "In Coach Frank's high-tempo system, Son Heung-min may struggle to provide the dynamism to the team as he did in the past," suggesting that a transfer could be a wise decision for both the player and the team.
There remains a scenario where he could stay at Tottenham and experience the Champions League stage one last time, but attention is focused on what choice Son Heung-min will make amidst the serious courting from the U.S. and Saudi Arabia.
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