It is a frustrating situation. Jack Grealish (Manchester City) has been chosen as the player to replace Son Heung-min (Tottenham).
The Tottenham fan community Spurs Web noted on the 9th (Korean time) that 'a Tottenham fan argued that Grealish should be brought in instead of the team's key player.'
The key player mentioned here is none other than Son Heung-min.
Spurs Web further stated, 'Tottenham captain Son Heung-min has faced criticism over the past few months. Some fans are claiming that a replacement is needed for him, while some Tottenham players are defending Son Heung-min. Archie Gray emphasized that Son Heung-min is still 'world-class.' Furthermore, Ange Postecoglou, the Tottenham manager, shares this view. However, fans have started to believe that it is time for a new face.'
The mention of Grealish arose due to media reports.
Team Talk reported on the 6th with the headline, 'Grealish, struggling at Manchester City, has been named as a symbolic replacement for a Premier League rival.'
Here, the Premier League rival refers to Tottenham, and the symbolic figure is Son Heung-min. Essentially, this means that Grealish has been determined as the player to take Son Heung-min's spot.
Grealish joined Manchester City from Aston Villa in the summer of 2021. The transfer fee reached £100 million (186 billion won), and the contract was for six years. He is a forward who was expected to inherit the number 10 jersey of Sergio Agüero.
Grealish, coming from Aston Villa, was involved in many goals by providing opportunities for teammates. He scored 59 goals and assisted 80 in 446 matches for Aston Villa. Although primarily a left winger, Grealish made an impact both at the forefront and in midfield.
However, under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, Grealish hasn't stood out. To date, he has scored 16 goals and provided 23 assists in 151 matches, but this season he has only recorded 2 goals and 5 assists, including 1 assist in 16 league matches.
Son Heung-min has recorded 10 goals and 10 assists in 36 official matches this season. Compared to last season's tally of 17 goals, his influence has diminished. In light of this, former Tottenham goalkeeper Paul Robinson has suggested that Matthijs Tal (20), currently on loan, could replace Son Heung-min.
Another fan remarked through a local media TalkSport podcast, 'I believe that Jack Grealish would be the best fit for Tottenham,' and added, 'Son Heung-min is not performing as well as before, and I think we need a player who is slightly better than him. I see Jack Grealish as the right person to replace Son Heung-min.' Podcast host Darren Bent, a former Tottenham striker, also acknowledged, 'It cannot be denied that Son Heung-min does not have the same impact as before. This is a natural change that comes with age.'
Spurs Web pointed out, 'Grealish is undoubtedly an excellent player, but his performance at Manchester City has been inconsistent. This season has proven to be particularly challenging for him. He has recorded only 1 assist in the league and has completed full matches on only 2 occasions.' / 10bird@OSEN
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