This is a stance that is close to blasphemy for a true legendary player.
British 'TalkSport' reported on the 21st (Korea time), 'Tottenham thinks that their 'captain' Son Heung-min has ended as an elite player. They are considering accepting a €50 million (about 75.2 billion won) offer from Saudi Arabia,' and added, 'Tottenham believes that Son Heung-min will not be able to recover his performance.'
Son Heung-min's situation is unclear ahead of the 2024-2025 season. Interest has been shown by Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich as contract renewal has been delayed. However, Tottenham has exercised the January option, confirming that Son Heung-min will remain until June 2026.
British media analyzed that Tottenham extended the contract considering the transfer fee. The original contract was until this season, but the club used the extension option in January this year to bind him for the next season, indicating that the intention was not to complete the contract period but to activate the one-year extension option on Son Heung-min to receive the desired transfer fee in the summer transfer market.
Recently, reports have emerged that manager Postecoglou has requested alternative resources for Son Heung-min, which has particularly strengthened the speculation about his transfer. The player Tottenham is eyeing is Eberechi Eze of Crystal Palace. 'TBR Football' noted, 'Tottenham is looking to restructure their attack. They are prepared to part ways with Son Heung-min. Although manager Postecoglou's future is uncertain given his limited time at Tottenham, both he and the club are prioritizing Eze as their primary acquisition target.'
Eze, born in 1998, transferred to Crystal Palace in August 2020. He recorded 11 goals and 4 assists in 27 Premier League matches last season, but has faced a drop in performance this season with 2 goals and 5 assists in 21 matches.
The media compared the performances of Son Heung-min and Eze. Eze attempted more shots, but Son Heung-min had higher efficiency with 6 goals and 7 assists. Son Heung-min also excelled in shooting accuracy. Nevertheless, Eze is receiving attention not only from Tottenham but also from Manchester United, Chelsea, and Arsenal.
'TBR Football' forecasted, 'Under manager Postecoglou, Eze is more likely to take on the role of a '10' rather than playing as a left winger.'
The problem is that despite manager Postecoglou achieving the worst results, he continues to remain at his post. Tottenham has dismissed managers like Jose Mourinho, Antonio Conte, and even Mauricio Pochettino, who led the team during its peak, multiple times due to poor performance, yet they have shown an unusual level of patience with manager Postecoglou.
Some local British media have speculated that Tottenham is hesitant to dismiss manager Postecoglou due to concerns over his substantial buyout clause. There has also been analysis suggesting that the club's transfer policy and Postecoglou's compliant attitude have been significant contributors to this situation.
Paradoxically, despite the worst results, manager Postecoglou continues to linger for various reasons. He is attempting to dismiss the club's legendary player Son Heung-min by claiming he has aged, which reflects an ungrateful approach from Tottenham. Behind such shocking decisions by the team lies unexpected reasoning. Team Talk asserted, 'Tottenham thinks that Son Heung-min has ended as an elite player. He has continued to struggle with his performance throughout the season, leading the club to believe there is no chance of his recovery.'
The media claimed, 'Tottenham invoked the one-year extension option for Son Heung-min, a living legend at the club. They intend to bench him in favor of Mathys Tel. There is a possibility that they might sell him if they receive love calls from Saudi clubs. €50 million would be a sufficient amount.'
It was added, 'For now, Tottenham prefers to keep Son Heung-min rather than sell him. However, if Son Heung-min's struggles continue and a €50 million offer comes in, Tottenham might sell him. Coach Postecoglou wants Eze.'
Such undervaluation from Tottenham can be seen as pressure on Son Heung-min. Although he is the player with the most attacking points on the team, they seem to blame all of the team's struggles on him. In reality, Son Heung-min has been managing a strenuous schedule amidst many injuries to his teammates.
This is not the first time that a link between Tottenham and Eze has been reported. Interest from Tottenham was also noted in July of last year. At that time, 'The Evening Standard' reported, 'Tottenham has decided to sign Eze and is considering paying a buyout fee of £60 million (about 105 billion won).
'Football London' also reported, 'As several clubs have set their sights on Eze, Tottenham is pushing for a £60 million contract.' Manager Postecoglou has also shown signs of betrayal as rumors of alternatives arise, contrasting recent interviews. There seems to be no regard for the legend from Tottenham. It remains to be seen how far their dramatics will continue.
/mcadoo@osen.co.kr
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