"Son Heung-min and Richarlison should be sold at the same time."
Tottenham drew 2-2 with Wycombe Wanderers in a preseason friendly match held on the 26th (Korean time) at Hotspur Way in England. Tottenham deployed a 4-3-3 formation with Son Heung-min, Richarlison, and Wilson Odobert at the forefront. Pape Sarr, Lucas Bergvall, and Rodrigo Bentancur took charge of the midfield, while Ben Davies, Cristian Romero, Lucas Buskovic, and Pedro Porro formed the defense. Brandon Austin guarded the goal.
Tottenham dominated the early flow. In the 14th minute of the first half, Odobert's long-range shot from in front of the box was blocked by the goalkeeper, but Sarr coolly pushed the rebound into the net to score the opening goal. Son Heung-min also attempted a left-footed shot in the box in the 26th minute of the first half, but it was stopped by the opposing defense. Tottenham's advantage did not last long. In the 32nd minute of the first half, Junior Kitirna, who received the ball on the right side, shook Tottenham's defense and penetrated into the box, and Austin failed to handle the shot directed at him, allowing the equalizer. The first half ended 1-1.
Wycombe turned the game around in the 5th minute of the second half. Kitirna connected a low cross from Daniel Udogie on the left side with a shot to score an additional goal. Tottenham equalized when Sarr scored his second goal in the 20th minute of the second half. Sarr perfectly finished a cross from the left side, saving the team.
In the 24th minute of the second half, Son Heung-min attempted a curling shot with his right foot from inside the box, but it went into the goalkeeper's arms. Tottenham experimented by substituting eight key players, including Son Heung-min, Romero, Bergvall, and Davies, all at once in the 30th minute of the second half. On this day, head coach Thomas Frank also made headlines by leaving the stadium early in the 33rd minute to prepare for the scheduled match against Luton Town that night. The game ended in a 2-2 draw.
Son Heung-min played for about 75 minutes but did not show the impact expected. He recorded three shots, a passing accuracy of 93% (26/28), one chance created, seven touches in the box, and one successful dribble, which were decent numbers, but his performance was mediocre. Tottenham News gave Son Heung-min a rating of 4, stating, "While there were a few bright moments in the second half, he was almost invisible for much of the first half. He could not shake off defenders on the flanks, and his performance was no different from that against Reading," criticizing his play. He received the same score as Austin, who made a shocking mistake that day.
With consecutive silence in preseason, the transfer rumors surrounding Son Heung-min are gaining strength. Tottenham News reported, "The match against Wycombe felt like Son Heung-min's heart is no longer at 'Hotspur Way.' Having spent ten years at Tottenham, it may be time for him to prepare for farewell."
It also added, "Especially in a situation where noticeable players like Tynan Thomson, who assisted the second goal, are emerging, Son Heung-min's standing is increasingly narrowing."
Son Heung-min is also receiving cold evaluations from local fans. On social media, there were claims such as, "We need a left-back and a striker. Son Heung-min should leave," along with opinions stating, "He should leave at the top so that his legacy isn't damaged. The longer he stays, the more his achievements could be diluted." The call to "sell Son Heung-min and Richarlison at the same time" has also emerged.
[OSEN]