Captain Son Heung-min (33, Son Heung-min) is at the center of heated transfer discussions. The possibility of leaving the European stage for the Saudi Arabian league has rapidly increased, and the actual betting market and several local media outlets are creating an atmosphere of certainty about his move to the Middle East.
The Tottenham fan community, Tottenham Hotspur News, reported on the 8th (Korea time) that "Son Heung-min rejected an offer from the U.S. Major League Soccer (MLS) LAFC. For now, a transfer to Saudi Arabia is the most likely scenario."
This trend is also reflected in the betting indicators. British betting company SkyBet has set the probability of Son Heung-min transferring to a Saudi club at 69.2%. This is an overwhelming figure compared to other transfer scenarios, providing strong support for where Son Heung-min's next destination is likely to be.
The offers from Saudi Arabian clubs go beyond simple contact. TeamTalk reported that "multiple Saudi Arabian clubs have proposed a three-year contract with a total aggregates of €90 million (144.6 billion won) and an annual salary of €30 million (48.2 billion won)." This is a rare condition not only for players from Asia but also for top European veterans.
BBC reported that "Saudi Arabian clubs are looking to minimize the transfer fee by taking advantage of the fact that Son Heung-min has only one year left on his contract, while maximizing the player's brand value."
In recent years, Saudi Arabia has strengthened its international competitiveness by successively signing top European stars, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Sadio Mané, and Sergio Ramos, and it is analyzed that Son Heung-min is the last piece of that strategy.
In particular, Saudi Arabia sees Son Heung-min not just as a 'player,' but as a cultural content and marketing platform that connects the entire Asia. Within the global sports industry nurturing strategy led by sovereign wealth funds, Son Heung-min is a key figure that can function as a 'symbolic presence.'
However, there is still a possibility that Son Heung-min will not leave the European stage immediately. SpursWeb reported that "Son Heung-min wants to experience the UEFA Champions League stage one more time. He also has the intention to confirm his synergy with newly appointed coach Thomas Frank."
Coach Frank is in the process of rebuilding the team around young resources. He brought in Mathys Tel from Bayern Munich, and 2005-born forward Mikey Moore is also being highlighted as a key resource in the preseason. John Wenham of 'Lilywhite Rose' noted that "Son Heung-min will find it difficult to start in every match now. It is time to hand over the captaincy to a younger leader."
Tottenham Hotspur News analyzed that Son Heung-min's transfer could actually provide a positive opportunity for Moore. "If Son Heung-min leaves, Moore's chances of playing will significantly increase. This could justify keeping him for at least another season," they stated, adding that "Various tactical options will also be opened up for Coach Frank."
However, from Tottenham's perspective, which has to compete in the UCL, Premier League, and FA Cup, the absence of Son Heung-min could mean an immediate weakening of the squad. Regardless of the growth potential of young resources, the departure of a proven leader is bound to pose a risk to team management.
Son Heung-min is scheduled to return to the team training this week and hold a meeting with Coach Frank regarding his future. It is expected that his future plans will be somewhat clarified in this meeting, which will likely have a significant impact on the subsequent transfer market landscape.
On the 8th, Son Heung-min, who celebrated his birthday, received a message from the Tottenham club stating, "Captain, Legend, Happy Birthday, Son Heung-min." However, the club has not yet disclosed any official position regarding the extension of his contract.
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