"He can no longer play as a key player for Tottenham."

Tottenham Hotspur News reported on the 20th (Korea Standard Time) that "Martin Allen, who previously managed Brentford, claimed in an exclusive interview with our publication that Son Heung-min could transfer to a team promoted from the Championship (second division)."

Since joining Tottenham in 2015, he has been a pivotal player for the team. However, this season, Tottenham has plummeted to 14th in the league, experiencing its worst slump. The team has also been eliminated early from both the FA Cup and the Carabao Cup, failing to meet fans' expectations.

Amid this slump, local media in the UK have raised questions about Son Heung-min's leadership and noted that his performance is on the decline. There have also been somewhat extreme claims that if manager Ange Postecoglou were to be dismissed, Son Heung-min would also bear some responsibility.

In fact, some local fans have begun to criticize Son Heung-min.

Tottenham News reported that after a 0-2 defeat to Fulham, "Son Heung-min's popularity is declining, and fans want his contract terminated." Some fans criticized him strongly, saying, "He needs to prove himself on the field," and "He reacts the same way every time there is a loss."

Son Heung-min has made 448 appearances for Tottenham, scoring 173 goals and providing 95 assists, establishing himself as a club legend. Since joining in the 2015-2016 season, he has scored double digits in goals for nine consecutive seasons, and in the 2021-2022 season, he scored 23 goals in the league without a penalty kick, becoming the top scorer in the Premier League and setting a record as the first Asian player to do so. Furthermore, he is currently showcasing both performance and leadership as the captain of Tottenham.

Football London reported on the 19th that "Tottenham already has Mohamed Salah, yet everyone is criticizing him."

What Football London is referring to is Son Heung-min. While he has clearly performed above average this season, it is true that excessive criticism is directed toward him. Tottenham recently activated a one-year extension option in his contract. Consequently, Son Heung-min is set to play for Tottenham until 2026 and is likely to continue in his captaincy role. Fans may have different opinions on the role Son Heung-min should play as captain and his contributions to the team. However, ultimately, performance is a crucial factor in evaluations. Moreover, Football London stated that despite Tottenham struggling in the lower ranks of the league, Son Heung-min's performance this season has been decent. They elaborated that "in terms of big chance creation in the Premier League, only three players have created more chances than Son Heung-min," noting that he has made 16 big chances this season, with Bukayo Saka (19), Cole Palmer (19), and Mohamed Salah (21) holding higher records. They added, "These 16 big chances have led to 9 assists in the Premier League."

Clearly, according to the stats, Son Heung-min is not struggling. However, the high expectations of him combined with Tottenham's poor performance have led to criticism.

Son Heung-min is regarded as a player who will be remembered in Premier League history beyond mere records. In the 2023-2024 season, he continues to perform consistently with goals and assists in the league while leading the team as captain. Considering this, the choice to exclude Son Heung-min appears to be a result of personal preference rather than objective criteria.

Tottenham Hotspur News reported that "Martin Allen assessed that Son Heung-min has long surpassed his prime and can no longer play as a core player for Tottenham."

Allen analyzed, "Son Heung-min has had an amazing run at Tottenham for years. But to be frank, his speed has significantly diminished compared to the past. There is a substantial difference from his prime days."

He continued, "It will become increasingly difficult for him to consistently be on the pitch and find positions to score. Honestly, it wouldn't be surprising if Tottenham started contemplating how to offload him."

He said, "Where will Son Heung-min go? Teams promoted from the Championship will be eager to sign him. He still has something to offer," suggesting that a transfer to a promoted team rather than a big club is feasible.

Despite being Tottenham's marquee player and captain, Son Heung-min is facing negative assessments regarding his career amid a barrage of recent harsh criticism. As some experts and fans unleash derogatory remarks toward him, attention is drawn to whether he can once again prove his worth.

[OSEN]