Shock claims have emerged that Tottenham 'captain' Son Heung-min (33) should move to a team in the English Championship (Second Division).
Former Brentford manager Martin Allen said in an interview with Tottenham Hotspur News on the 20th (Korea time), "Son Heung-min is a fantastic player. But to be honest, he is losing his previous speed. Compared to his prime, his performance has dropped significantly. It is not surprising that Tottenham is considering how to transfer him." He added, "Where will he go? If it's a team getting promoted from the Championship, they will be willing to acquire Son Heung-min."
A total of three teams are promoted from the Championship to the Premier League. The promotion method is determined through automatic promotion and playoffs.
As of the 2024-2025 season, there are 24 teams in the Championship. Each team plays 46 matches during the regular season. After the season ends, the teams in 1st and 2nd place are automatically promoted to the Premier League. The remaining team is determined through the promotion playoffs.
Teams ranked 3rd to 6th in the Championship compete in the promotion playoffs, with the 3rd place team facing the 6th place team and the 4th place team facing the 5th place team. Both matches are played in a home-and-away format, and the team with the superior aggregate score advances to the playoff finals.
The playoff finals are held as a single match at a neutral venue, usually at Wembley Stadium.
Currently, Leeds United is ranked 1st in the Championship. Sheffield United, with 80 points, is in 2nd place. Burnley, with 78 points, is in 3rd place, while Sunderland, with 69 points, is in 4th. Coventry City is in 5th place with 59 points, and West Bromwich Albion is in 6th place with 57 points.
Allen wants to convey that it would not be surprising for Son Heung-min to transfer to Leeds or Sheffield, both with a high possibility of promotion.
Tottenham Hotspur News also shared a similar opinion. Reporting Allen's interview, it noted, "In the past, Son Heung-min performed best at Tottenham alongside Harry Kane. However, after Kane left for Bayern Munich, he has not been a reliable solution. This season, he has only scored 7 goals in the Premier League," adding, "A transfer for Son Heung-min could benefit both sides."
He added, "Looking at the current situation, it seems that Son Heung-min's time at Tottenham is coming to an end. Young players like Brennan Johnson and Wilson Odobert are emerging as important options for the future."
Currently, Son Heung-min is under contract with Tottenham until the summer of 2026. Even if this season ends, there is still one year left. He originally could have become a free agent this coming summer, but last January Tottenham activated a one-year extension option.
Naturally, Son Heung-min's possibility of a free agent move this summer has been blocked. In fact, Barcelona considered the possibility of acquiring Son Heung-min, but it essentially fell through. Additionally, several other teams such as Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Galatasaray have been linked with him, but all of that has gone quiet.
However, rumors of Son Heung-min's sale continue. Particularly as Tottenham has fallen into a severe slump, it seems that the blame is falling on captain Son Heung-min. Criticism is growing regarding his lack of leadership and whether he deserves to be in the starting lineup.
If Tottenham wishes to part ways with Son Heung-min, this summer is the right time. It is effectively their last chance to sell him for a desired 'transfer fee' given the current situation preventing a free transfer.
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