"Son Heung-min has stumbled under manager Ange Postecoglou."

ESPN published an article on the 1st (Korean time) titled, "What has gone wrong for Son Heung-min? What does the future hold for Son at Tottenham?"

Son Heung-min, born in 1992, is showing a markedly different path this season compared to his peer Mohamed Salah.

Both Son Heung-min and Salah are regarded as legendary figures at Tottenham and Liverpool, respectively, but are recording completely different performances this season.

Salah is having what many consider the best season of his career, leading Liverpool in the Premier League title race. In contrast, Son is experiencing his first moment of instability at Tottenham.

This season, Son has recorded 10 goals and 10 assists, reaching double figures for the ninth consecutive season. Notably, Son has achieved 126 goals and 71 assists over 326 career Premier League matches, becoming the 11th player in history to reach 70 goals and 70 assists.

The superficial performance is not bad. However, he is being evaluated as having diminishing overall impact on the team.

TeamTalk highlighted the futures of four Tottenham players facing contract expiration in 2026 and offered opinions on each.

The four players are Son Heung-min, Yves Bissouma, Rodrigo Bentancur, and Bryan Gil.

TeamTalk argued that Son Heung-min and Bentancur should remain with the team, yet the conditions they proposed for Son are somewhat outrageous.

TeamTalk explained, "Even if he is sold this summer, the likelihood of receiving a large transfer fee is low. Son will turn 33 in July, and his performance is showing a decline."

They further stated, "He remains very popular in the locker room and could play a useful role as a rotation member under Postecoglou's system."

However, they also emphasized, "Tottenham needs better leadership on the field moving forward, so it would be advisable for him to relinquish the captain's armband, as the team tends to crumble easily when games do not go as desired."

Additionally, they suggested, "Considering this point, it would be reasonable for Tottenham to allow Son to leave on a free transfer in the summer of 2026 so he could receive a transfer bonus with a new team. Having recorded 172 goals and 94 assists in 444 matches, he certainly deserves that."

If he re-signs with Tottenham, his salary reduction will inevitably follow due to a diminished role.

Son is currently struggling on and off the field this season. He has scored 10 goals and provided 10 assists in 36 matches, impacted by a hamstring injury and overexertion. He hasn't scored in the last nine matches. Though these figures are not bad, there is criticism because it is Son Heung-min.

Uncertainty surrounds his future at Tottenham. Initially, Son was expected to see his contract expire at the end of this season. However, instead of signing a new multi-year contract, Tottenham hastily activated a one-year extension option last January. This has led to ongoing speculation that Son could leave the team this summer.

Tottenham Hotspur News reported on the 1st, "Son Heung-min's future may be decided in a few weeks," adding that if he does leave amid speculation of a transfer to Bayern Munich, it would be a departure filled with blessings after 10 years of dedication.

The news was not seen as particularly shocking. It is a situation that could happen even with Son's transfer. That is, the ongoing transfer speculation to Bayern Munich.

The Times reported, "Tottenham wants to retire Son at the club. They are trying to persuade him to extend his contract, which has only one year left, but so far they have been unable to do so."

Tottenham Hotspur News added, "Various approaches will be needed to extend Son's contract. They should propose a special contract that allows him to remain a club icon or keep open the possibility of adjusting playing time and taking on a future leadership role. Tottenham needs to present Son with a long-term vision."

Of course, the possibility of acquiring a replacement for Son is also significant. There is potential for a permanent acquisition of Mathys Tel, who was brought in on loan.

There are also rumors of making a significant investment in Eberechi Eze from Crystal Palace. Recently, there are projections that they will invest £62 million (114.3 billion won) to bring in Matheus Cunha from Wolverhampton.

Ultimately, as the possibilities of replacements joining increase, it seems Son is not overly concerned about leaving the team.

Tottenham Hotspur News noted, "Given that Tottenham has to make a significant investment in Cunha, if Son transfers to Bayern Munich, they will demand a substantial fee."

ESPN noted, "While Salah has proven to be a key player for the team, some Tottenham fans have begun to question whether Son can still be the driving force for the team in his 10th year," adding, "Son appears to be affected by Tottenham's issues this season."

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