'Smile man' Son Heung-min (33) has lost his smile at Tottenham Hotspur, where he has spent 10 years.

The United States' ESPN noted on April 28 (Korea time), 'What problems does Son Heung-min have? Is his future at Tottenham?' drawing attention to Son's uncertain future.

The media compared Son Heung-min with his peer Mohamed Salah (Liverpool). ESPN reported, 'Son Heung-min and Salah were both born in the summer of 1992, just three weeks apart. They have both become legendary figures at their respective clubs. However, one of them is enjoying the best season of their life, leading Liverpool as overwhelming favorites for the Premier League title, while the other is questioning his 'untouchable' status at Tottenham for the first time in his career.'

Son Heung-min is experiencing ups and downs both on and off the pitch this season. On the field, due to a hamstring injury and the effects of a grueling schedule, he has recorded 10 goals and 10 assists in 36 matches. He has not scored a single goal in the last nine matches. While these numbers aren't bad, they have drawn criticism simply because it is Son Heung-min.

His future at Tottenham is also uncertain. Son Heung-min was originally set to see his contract expire at the end of this season. However, rather than signing a new long-term contract, Tottenham hastily activated a one-year extension option last January. This has led to continuous speculation that Son may leave the team this summer.

ESPN also noted, 'Some Tottenham fans have reluctantly begun to wonder whether Son Heung-min can still be their driving force as he approaches 10 years in North London. His professional and personal sense of responsibility seems to have been affected by the issues at Tottenham this season. One source stated, 'Perhaps the biggest concern is not that Son Heung-min isn't scoring, but that he isn't smiling.'

In fact, it is reported that Son Heung-min is hesitant to re-sign with Tottenham. Recently, the United Kingdom's The Times explained, 'Tottenham wants Son Heung-min to retire at the club. However, as July approaches, they have been unable to persuade him to extend his contract, which will only have one year remaining.'

ESPN also stated, 'Son Heung-min is described as a very dedicated professional player, and he is reportedly troubled by the team's collective issues.' They added, 'Son Heung-min is not a player who causes a stir. However, according to sources, the player’s side has expressed disappointment that discussions regarding a new contract have not occurred. Instead, Tottenham has decided to activate the one-year extension option.'

The media continued, 'For a financially modest club like Tottenham, it makes logical sense to exclude emotions from decisions and reevaluate after 12 months. However, this is difficult for many fans who are worried about Son Heung-min's future. He is the last remaining core member of the team from manager Mauricio Pochettino's squad that reached the Champions League final in 2019. He formed the 'DESK Line' with Dele Alli, Christian Eriksen, and Harry Kane.'

Ultimately, it seems that Son Heung-min is struggling with the lukewarm attitude of Tottenham in contract negotiations. Given that he has dedicated 10 years to Tottenham, it is understandable that he finds the club's treatment disappointing.

Coincidentally, rumors of Son Heung-min's transfer to Bayern Munich have resurfaced. Spain's Fichajes reported, 'Son Heung-min is seriously considering a move to Bayern, and Bayern also plans to strengthen its attacking power by bringing him in.'

The media also added, 'Bayern views Son Heung-min as a player who 'perfectly fits' the team's tactical philosophy,' suggesting it could be an opportunity for Son to win a trophy that he has never lifted at Tottenham. Son Heung-min has yet to win a single title in his club career. Tottenham has also been without a trophy for 17 years since winning the League Cup in the 2007-2008 season.

The Tottenham fan base does not appear to oppose Son Heung-min's potential move to Bayern. Tottenham News stated, 'With Bayern looking to strengthen their attacking options, a return of Son Heung-min to Germany this summer seems likely. A decision about his future is expected to be made in the coming weeks.' They added, 'If Son Heung-min leaves for Bayern like Kane and Eric Dier, it will certainly be with the blessing of all Tottenham fans.'

Speculation about Son Heung-min's transfer to Bayern also heated up last December. At that time, when asked which Tottenham player he would want to bring to Bayern, Kane replied, 'I don’t think Tottenham fans will be too happy with this answer. But I would choose Son Heung-min.' He added, 'Son Heung-min and I have a really good relationship. We formed a great partnership at Tottenham and became good friends off the pitch. I think we could do pretty well together in the Bundesliga.'

Son Heung-min and Kane were the Premier League's best attacking duo during their time at Tottenham. Together, they combined for a staggering 47 goals, surpassing the duo of Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba (36 goals) to set the record for the most combined goals in Premier League history. Son Heung-min has 24 goals and 23 assists, while Kane has 23 goals and 24 assists, evenly split.

This has generated excitement in Germany as well. TZ reported, 'Kane and Son Heung-min have played almost 300 matches together over the past eight years and have scored numerous goals. They have complemented each other perfectly both on and off the pitch.' They added, 'Kane's idea is not that outlandish. Son Heung-min was linked with Bayern a few years ago. He started his career in Hamburg and made significant progress at Bayer Leverkusen. Son Heung-min speaks fluent German and possesses dual-footed abilities, allowing him to play in almost any position in Bayern's attack.'

In fact, Bayern has been looking for a new winger. Leroy Sané, Kingsley Coman, and Serge Gnabry, all of whom earn high salaries, have not lived up to expectations. Additionally, Turkish journalist Ekrem Konur reported, 'If Bayern fails to secure Xavi Simons, they may consider signing Son Heung-min,' fueling speculation.

However, with Tottenham extending Son Heung-min's contract last January, a free transfer is no longer possible. Now, if Bayern wants to sign Son Heung-min, they must pay the transfer fee that Tottenham desires. Considering he will soon turn 33, this will not be easy.

Especially considering the calculating nature of Tottenham Chairman Daniel Levy, it is unlikely that they will easily let go of Son Heung-min. Tottenham News also predicted, 'Tottenham is already targeting Wolverhampton striker Matheus Cunha as a replacement for Son Heung-min. They will hope to get a significant amount for Son Heung-min in order to meet his £62 million (about 114.1 billion won) buyout clause.'

However, if contract negotiations continue to stall, Tottenham may actively consider selling Son Heung-min. If they fail to secure an additional contract, this summer will be their last chance to receive a transfer fee. Tottenham is reportedly working to secure replacements for Son Heung-min, including Mathys Tel, Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace), and Cunha.

If Son Heung-min enters the market, Bayern is likely to show interest as well. Tottenham News reported, 'Since Kane left for Bayern for £100 million (about 184 billion won) in the summer of 2023, Son Heung-min has become a taboo and a leader for Tottenham. The two, who were a dynamic duo in North London, could reunite after two years. Bayern could reward Tottenham fans for the special times they experienced.'

[Photo] ⓒGettyimages (Unauthorized reproduction and redistribution prohibited), B/R Football, Talk Sport, Bayern for Life, Nonstop Football.

[OSEN = Ko Seong-hwan, Reporter]