Son Heung-min (Tottenham) is facing a new challenge that may take him beyond Europe to the United States. LAFC is pushing to acquire Son Heung-min, and if successful, there is speculation that he could be matched against Lionel Messi in MLS.
TBR Football reported on the 3rd (Korea time) that 'LAFC has been in discussions regarding a transfer with Tottenham captain Son Heung-min. LAFC is preparing a major deal to bring Son Heung-min to their home stadium, BMO Stadium, this summer.'
Tottenham's new head coach Thomas Frank is cautious about Son Heung-min's transfer, but he noted that the final decision will be left to the player himself. Son Heung-min is currently contemplating between staying at Tottenham and transferring, while multiple clubs are observing his future steps.
Initially, the clubs that expressed interest in Son Heung-min were teams in the Saudi Pro League supported by Middle Eastern capital. It is reported that Al Nassr and Al Hilal offered Son Heung-min extravagant terms, and Fenerbahçe, with José Mourinho newly at the helm, has also included him among transfer candidates.
However, the situation seems to be changing with LAFC recently entering the competition. Notably, Ange Postecoglou, who led Tottenham for the last two seasons, is being considered as a candidate for the next head coach of LAFC, bringing up the possibility of reuniting with Son Heung-min.
TBR Football stated, 'LAFC recently secured a designated player slot due to the departure of forward Olivier Giroud. MLS grants each club three designated player slots, allowing registered players to negotiate contracts that exceed the salary cap.' It added, 'LAFC plans to register Son Heung-min as a designated player and make him a key part of the team.'
If Son Heung-min dons the LAFC uniform, a rematch with Messi may be on the horizon. Currently, Inter Miami, where Messi plays, is one of the most watched teams in MLS, and Messi led the team to victory in last year’s Supporters’ Shield, awarded to the team with the most points in the MLS regular season, proving his class.
The previous matchups between Son Heung-min and Messi have been few, with only two encounters. The two teams faced off in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League during the 2018-2019 season when Tottenham met Barcelona. In both matches, Son Heung-min did not score, and his record stands at one draw and one loss.
Meanwhile, Son Heung-min is expected to join Tottenham for preseason soon. After that, he is likely to have a direct meeting with coach Frank to determine his future. If Coach Frank decides to exclude Son Heung-min from his starting plans, the possibility of a transfer is expected to increase.
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