Tottenham is accelerating the restructuring of its attack. With the acquisition of Mohammed Kudus, who was playing for West Ham United, tactical changes have been anticipated, and the issue of Son Heung-min's (32) future has also resurfaced.

Tottenham announced the signing of Kudus on the 11th (Korean time) through the club's official website. His new jersey number is 20. The contract terms are undisclosed, but the BBC reported that Tottenham has agreed with West Ham for a fee of £55 million (102.5 billion won), which is lower than the buyout clause of £85 million (158.5 billion won).

Kudus is a resource that holds value beyond a simple attacking option. The European soccer statistics media OneFootball noted, "Kudus recorded 3.18 tackles per 90 minutes in the Premier League last season, showing outstanding numbers in front pressing and defensive contributions," explaining, "This is the second-highest figure after Manchester City's Jeremy Doku and perfectly aligns with the high-pressing system pursued by manager Frank. "

OneFootball pointed out, "While Tottenham has strengthened the winger position by bringing in Kudus, the presence of Son Heung-min must also be mentioned as the biggest variable in the transfer market." Currently, Son has only one year left on his contract and is attracting continued interest from Saudi Arabian clubs.

In particular, Saudi Arabia has been knocking on the door with significant transfer fees and salaries for Son Heung-min. Within Tottenham, there are voices suggesting to generate revenue through a transfer before his contract expires. According to a survey conducted by Football London, 57% of the fans responded, "Now is the right time to send Son Heung-min to Saudi Arabia."

On the other hand, there are also significant opposing voices. It is argued that the intangible assets that can be gained if Son stays with the team cannot be overlooked. Football Insider reported, "Selling captain Son Heung-min right now, after Tottenham has successfully returned to the UEFA Champions League, could be a strategic blunder."

Football Insider analyzed, "It is acknowledged that Son Heung-min's performance last season was not as good as in previous years, but his experience is essential to maintain competitiveness in the UCL."

Former Tottenham goalkeeper and England national team player Paul Robinson also stated through a podcast, "Tottenham's attempts to sell Son Heung-min to secure funds are merely short-sighted. He is an icon of Tottenham and a consolidation with the fans, and his influence within the team as captain is overwhelming."

Fan reactions are similar. On the 8th, which was Son Heung-min's birthday, Tottenham sent a congratulatory message through its official social media, and many fans left comments saying, "Happy birthday" along with pleas for him to "not leave."

The numbers also speak for him. According to the soccer statistics company Opta, Tottenham recorded a 41.7% win rate in the 24 matches Son started last season. In contrast, they managed only 1 win (7.1% win rate) in the 14 matches that Son missed. Furthermore, in the matches where Son played, they averaged 2.1 goals per game, while his absence saw the average score drop to 1 goal.

Of course, it is not easy to interpret all the figures solely as Son Heung-min's impact. However, what is clear is that he is a player of significance beyond mere strategy. His symbolism as captain, leadership, and consistent scoring ability are still essential assets to Tottenham.

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