'Lowest rating' Son Heung-min (33, Tottenham)'s transfer possibility is becoming a reality. Local reports indicate that Tottenham Hotspur has classified the club's symbol and captain as effectively being available for transfer.
British 'Give Me Sport' reported on the 20th (Korea time) that 'Tottenham has conveyed to Son Heung-min that he could leave the team if there is a “suitable offer” this summer.' This report reignites discussions about Son Heung-min's future by citing an exclusive report from 'TBR Football'.
Son Heung-min has appeared to be struggling with his position in the team in recent months, starting on the bench in the Europa League final last May. He has one year left on his contract, but local perspectives suggest that he is not at the center of Tottenham's plans as the club pushes for a revamp of its attacking lineup.
In fact, Son Heung-min received the lowest rating in the preseason opener against Reading on the 19th, displaying a disappointing performance. He was substituted on at the start of the second half but showed erratic movements and was slow on the left wing. His shot attempt went far off the target, and he underperformed during the attacking process.
London local newspaper 'Football London' rated Son Heung-min the lowest on the team with a score of 5, stating, 'He showed a very clumsy touch several times, and one difficult shot went well over the goal.'
In contrast, Mohammed Kudus, who made his debut in the same match, delivered an impressive performance overall and received a rating of 9. Football London praised him, stating, 'Kudus showcased exquisite touches while beating defenders several times and assisted both Rankshire's opening goal and Buskovic's additional goal,' awarding him an outstanding score of 9.
Thomas Frank, who recently took over as Tottenham's manager, did not clarify his stance on Son Heung-min's future at his first press conference last week. He mentioned, 'If a player has been with a club for a long time, the club needs to make a decision.' Furthermore, he indicated the possibility of stripping Son Heung-min of the captaincy, saying, 'For now, Romero and Son Heung-min will wear the captain's armband. We will reassess later.'
According to local reports, Son Heung-min is aware of the current situation, and the club is prepared to open the door if he wishes to transfer. He currently earns about £190,000 per week (approximately 355 million won) and has become a club legend as he marks his 10th anniversary with Tottenham.
Give Me Sport cited soccer journalist Graham Bailey's analysis, noting, 'Son Heung-min is undoubtedly a player with transfer possibilities. Tottenham has already acquired Mohammed Kudus, and Frank is still targeting Yoann Wissa, whom he coached during his time at Brentford,' adding that 'Son Heung-min is not a 'core' part of future plans.'
In fact, Tottenham acquired Kudus from West Ham United for £55 million (approximately 102.8 billion won) and has a variety of young, versatile players like Mathys Tel, Mikey Moore, Richarlison, and Wilson Odobert in the left and right wing positions.
However, the likelihood of Son Heung-min's transfer materializing immediately is low. The club is currently preparing for an Asian tour, and Son Heung-min remains a superstar with substantial influence in Korea and the East Asian market. Considering the club's promotional and commercial value, local media predict that there will be no movement until after the tour concludes on August 8.
Since transferring from Bayer 04 Leverkusen to Tottenham in 2015, Son Heung-min won the Premier League top scorer title (jointly with Mohamed Salah, with 23 goals) in the 2021-2022 season, and he has made his mark in the club's history alongside Harry Kane as one of the greatest duos. However, now, his future is increasingly heading towards 'separation.' Son Heung-min must deliver standout performances in the remaining four preseason matches to change his standing.
[OSEN]