Son Heung-min (33, Tottenham Hotspur) may become a Saudi Arabian star to replace his fellow 33-year-old Neymar (33, Santos). Following Al Ittihad, Al Hilal has also reportedly entered the race to recruit Son Heung-min.
British outlet 'Caught Offside' reported on the 20th (Korea time) that "two clubs in the Saudi Pro League plan to offer a transfer fee of 50 million euros (approximately 75.1 billion won) to recruit 'Tottenham star' Son Heung-min. Son Heung-min is receiving Saudi attention amid uncertainty about his future at Tottenham. "
Specific team names were also mentioned. The media reported, "According to sources, both Al Ittihad and Al Hilal are interested in Son Heung-min and are willing to pay 50 million euros."
Al Ittihad has been the club linked to Son Heung-min since the summer of 2023. According to American outlet 'CBS Sports,' last summer, Al Ittihad prepared a transfer fee of $65 million (approximately 94.1 billion won) and an annual salary of 30 million euros (approximately 45.3 billion won) to bring Son Heung-min to Saudi Arabia. It was a 'mega proposal' that could amount to a total of 120 million euros (approximately 181.3 billion won) over four years.
Despite Son Heung-min's choice to remain at Tottenham, the Saudi pursuit remains strong. Recently, Turkish journalist Ekerem Konur also asserted that "Saudi clubs are planning to propose a transfer fee of 50 million euros for Son Heung-min," aligning exactly with the report from Caught Offside.
It is also noteworthy that not only Al Ittihad but also Al Hilal has recently been added to the mix. Al Hilal has not sought a replacement since terminating its contract with Neymar last month.
Al Hilal acquired Neymar with a staggering transfer fee of 80 million euros (approximately 120.7 billion won) and an annual salary of 150 million euros (approximately 226.3 billion won) in 2023. The contract duration was two years.
However, Neymar was sidelined for the season due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament just five games after arriving in Saudi Arabia. He played only 42 minutes during the entire year of 2024. He returned last October after nearly a year but fell again due to a right thigh injury. Eventually, Neymar terminated his contract with Al Hilal by mutual agreement and returned to his old team, Santos.
Neymar departed after leaving behind a meager stat of 1 goal and 2 assists in 7 games over 532 days. According to French outlet 'Foot Mercato,' he earned just 101 million euros (approximately 151.6 billion won) for playing only 42 minutes in 2024. Even overall, he played 7 games for Al Hilal and made nearly 200 million pounds (approximately 362.9 billion won). Al Hilal, having spent 360 billion won for a single goal, now seems to think about filling that void with Son Heung-min.
For now, Tottenham appears to be considering continuing with Son Heung-min. Caught Offside reported, "Tottenham wants to keep Son Heung-min and is willing to discuss a new contract. Son Heung-min is also satisfied under manager Ange Postecoglou, so he may engage in contract negotiations."
However, if Saudi Arabia truly bets a colossal amount, the situation could change. Caught Offside also pointed out, "Despite this, Saudi Arabia is interested in Son Heung-min, and if they propose a significant sum, it could pose a problem. A proposal of 50 million euros for Son Heung-min, who will be 33 years old next season, may be hard to refuse."
Tottenham has previously hesitated to renew Son Heung-min's contract. Local reports in Britain indicated that since the middle of last season, Tottenham had planned to offer Son Heung-min a multi-year contract that included a salary increase. However, the talks about a renewal have since faded, leading to suggestions that Tottenham unilaterally canceled the negotiations.
As a result, Tottenham's choice was a mere activation of a 1-year extension option. Tottenham did not activate this option promptly but dragged it out, ultimately opting to keep Son Heung-min until June 2026. Naturally, this also leaves Son Heung-min's possibility of leaving as a free agent at the end of this season blocked.
Now, Tottenham seems to be considering parting ways with Son Heung-min. 'TBR Football' reported, "Son Heung-min's camp views Tottenham's search for various attacking options, including a left winger, as a clear signal that he is not included in the club's plans. Saudi Pro League interest in Son Heung-min is high, similar to that in Major League Soccer (MLS) in the United States."
Additionally, the media reported, "Tottenham chose the 1-year extension option to preserve Son Heung-min's value. Son Heung-min's side has not engaged in new talks with Tottenham, and they firmly believe he is likely to leave North London this summer," and also noted, "Tottenham is concerned that Son Heung-min may struggle to regain his prime form. They worry that he could lose his starting position in the future."
Caught Offside also expressed concern, stating, "Son Heung-min is a Tottenham legend who has built an excellent career in North London over the past 10 years. However, it may be difficult to continue supporting him for much longer. Even if Tottenham remains satisfied with Son Heung-min, like most players, he is surely approaching an aging curve."
The Tottenham board's thoughts are reportedly similar. TBR Football reported, "Last year, senior executives at Tottenham intervened to cancel negotiations due to concerns over Son Heung-min's long-term future. They believe that the fact they were right has been proven."
Tottenham's deep interest in Mathys Tel also adds weight to the rumors surrounding Son Heung-min's potential transfer. Tottenham has been working hard to recruit Tel in the winter transfer market, even with Chairman Daniel Levy getting personally involved. Ultimately, although they failed to secure a permanent transfer, they successfully brought him on loan after fierce competition. The rental fee that Tottenham paid to Bayern Munich could rise to a maximum of 10 million euros (approximately 15 billion won).
Tel is a type of forward with overlapping roles with Son Heung-min. He primarily plays on the left flank but can also take on the role of a central striker due to his quick pace. He also shares a similar outstanding shooting ability with both feet.
TBR Football reported, "Tottenham is becoming increasingly optimistic about permanently acquiring Tel, as he enjoys playing at the club and living in London. With this in mind, Tel has a high chance of long-term replacing Son Heung-min on the left flank. His versatility means he can play in all positions at the front."
However, it is uncertain if 18-year-old Tel can immediately perform as well as Son Heung-min. Caught Offside noted, "There probably won't be any European club willing to pay 50 million euros for a player of Son Heung-min's age. This opportunity presents Tottenham with a chance to generate significant revenue by letting him go. From a business perspective, this may seem somewhat natural, but they must also consider the impact on the field. Tottenham has been struggling since letting Harry Kane go. Son Heung-min is another marquee player who is very difficult to replace."