even the captain who lifted the UEFA Europa League trophy is not a 'guaranteed presence' in front of the new coach. Son Heung-min (33, Tottenham) has seen his position crack. Under Coach Frank's system, Son is no longer a guaranteed starter but classified as a 'competitor'.
Team Talk revealed Tottenham's summer transfer market plans along with the predicted starting lineup for the 2025-2026 season on the 9th (Korea time). Surprisingly, Son Heung-min's name was included in the candidate list, not the starting roster.
the key is the left winger position. Team Talk noted, 'If Mohammed Kudus, who Tottenham is aggressively trying to sign, takes on the left attack, Son Heung-min could remain on the bench' and added, 'If Kudus joins, even club legend Son Heung-min would find it difficult to secure a starting position.'
Kudus is a versatile player who made a name for himself last season at West Ham. He can operate across the entire attacking front, switching between the flanks and the center, and has the ability to evade one-on-one challenges, resist pressure, and maintain high activity levels. In particular, when utilized as a left attacker, a direct competition structure involving Son Heung-min will form.
in fact, transfer market experts Fabrizio Romano and David Ornstein of The Athletic reported on the 10th, 'Tottenham and West Ham have reached a swift agreement on Kudus's transfer. The transfer fee is £55 million (102.7 billion won), the contract period is six years, and the medical tests are scheduled for Thursday.'
this does not stop here. Tottenham is also actively working to bolster their front line and second line resources. Team Talk reported, 'Richarlison is very likely to leave the team this summer. The acquisition of Evan Ferguson from France's OGC Nice looks promising,' and further added, 'Replacing James Maddison, who has faced ups and downs recently, is RB Leipzig's Xavi Simons.'
Tottenham is forecasting a significant rebuilding effort across the entire attacking front, reflecting the reality that Son Heung-min's status is not what it once was.
Son Heung-min's current contract with Tottenham is valid until June 2026, but the club has already activated a one-year extension option, leaving less than a year until the contract expires. The club has not disclosed a specific stance regarding Son's future, effectively leaving the decision up to the player himself.
meanwhile, it has been reported that Son Heung-min recently rejected a transfer offer from LAFC, a Major League Soccer (MLS) team, and is receiving ongoing interest from the Saudi Arabian league. Despite lucrative contract conditions, Son is said to have no immediate plans to leave the European stage.
however, under Coach Frank's system, Son Heung-min's position is being completely redefined. Even as the captain who led the team to win the UEFA Europa League, he is not classified as an 'absolute presence.' Son must now return to the starting point of competition.
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