'Captain' Son Heung-min (33, Tottenham Hotspur) still has an uncertain future. He has returned to team training after resting this summer, but it is expected that more time is needed before his situation is determined.
Alasdair Gold, a dedicated Tottenham reporter for the British outlet Football London, conducted a Q&A session on the 13th (Korea time) to answer fans' questions. Fans asked about Tottenham's transfer market, external investment rumors, and various transfer speculations after the club recently signed Mohammed Kudus and is close to signing Morgan Gibbs-White.
Son Heung-min's name also came up. One fan asked, 'I am curious about Son Heung-min. It has been confirmed that he will participate in the Korea tour due to his contract. I wonder if a meeting with Manager Thomas Frank has been arranged. I think the longer discussions about a contract extension or staying go on, the greater the possibility of a transfer. What do you think?'
Gold's response was, 'Now is not the time.' He stated, 'Son Heung-min returned to Hotspur Way (Tottenham training facility) on Friday after having agreed on additional leave due to family commitments. On the first day of training, he was supposed to undergo various health checks, including a blood test. After that, he likely focused on the 1 km run that had exhausted the players before returning to training.'
Additionally, Gold noted, 'I feel it's too early to have such discussions. From Frank's perspective, he would likely want to see Son's performance directly before making a decision about his current level. Son has made significant contributions to Tottenham and the Premier League.'
Ultimately, the choice is Son Heung-min's. Gold remarked, 'I believe Son needs to make the decision. If he wants to stay with the team for the duration of his 10-year contract, he is entitled to that. But if he desires a transfer, he should pursue that path.' He expressed confidence that 'the two will have an honest and open conversation.'
For now, Son Heung-min is expected to remain with the team at least until early August as Tottenham will be visiting Hong Kong and Korea for a preseason Asia tour. Earlier, the British outlet The Times pointed out, 'Tottenham is open to selling Son Heung-min. However, it is highly unlikely that he will be sold before the preseason tour to Korea.'
Gold mentioned, 'It is unclear whether Tottenham is contractually obligated to include Son in the Hong Kong and Korea tour. However, if he transfers first and does not participate, there could be financial disadvantages.' He indicated that 'Manager Frank's first press conference is scheduled for Friday. More detailed information may be provided then.'
Son Heung-min, who has been at Tottenham since 2015, is a legend but has only one year left on his contract. According to The Times, Tottenham highly values Son's commercial worth and proposed a contract extension, but his side rejected it. As a result, they only activated the one-year extension option earlier this year.
Because of this, rumors are growing that he could bring his 10-year journey with Tottenham to an end this summer. Football London also confirmed that the possibility of Son leaving Tottenham this summer is greater than ever.
In particular, voices pointing to an 'aging curve' are growing as Son has turned 33. He managed only 7 goals and 10 assists in the Premier League last season due to injuries and the team's poor performance, breaking his streak of scoring double-digit goals in the league for 8 consecutive seasons. The BBC also reported, 'Given Son Heung-min's declining performance and Wilson Odobert's lack of experience, it is no surprise that Tottenham looks to sign a goal-scoring winger.'
Now might be the right time for a 'beautiful farewell.' Tottenham won the UEFA Europa League last season, ending a 17-year trophy drought, and Son also secured the first trophy of his career. Following this, manager Ange Postecoglou was dismissed, and with Thomas Frank now at the helm, it may be time for Son to part ways and prepare for a new era.
For now, Tottenham plans to respect Son Heung-min's wishes. According to Sky Sports, Tottenham is willing to let Son go if appropriate offers come in and he wishes to pursue a new challenge. However, they are reportedly seeking over €30 million (approximately 47.6 billion won) for him.
In fact, this is not the first time rumors about Son Heung-min's transfer have surfaced. Having grown into a world-class striker at Tottenham, he has consistently been linked with transfers. Notably, two years ago, he received a lucrative offer from Saudi Arabia, which he firmly rejected. However, this time, Son stated, 'I am curious as well. I think it would be good to see what happens,' keeping all options open, which changes the atmosphere.
For potential destinations, Saudi Arabia and the United States have been mentioned. According to Ben Jacobs of Talk Sport, Al Ahli, Al Nassr, and Al Qadisiya have prepared a transfer fee of €40 million (approximately 64.3 billion won) with a total salary of €90 million (approximately 144.7 billion won) for Son Heung-min. However, it is reported that the U.S. team LAFC attempted to acquire him but was rejected.
Son Heung-min is still undecided about his future, and Manager Frank's intentions will likely be important. Depending on whether he envisions utilizing Son as a key resource for the next season, Son's choice could change.
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