"Son Heung-min is getting slower, so we need to find a replacement."
Football Insider reported on the 21st (Korea time) that "Tottenham's core players Son Heung-min and Cristian Romero could be significant departures this summer. Struggling Tottenham is preparing for a major overhaul for the new season under a new managerial system."
It noted, "Tottenham, which finished 5th last year, narrowly missed out on the UEFA Champions League ticket due to falling behind Aston Villa. Although they started the season with optimism, they have completely regressed this year. The on-field performance is miserable, and off the field, rumors of coach Ange Postecoglou's departure continue to plague the former Celtic manager."
Tottenham Hotspur News reported on the 20th, "Martin Allen, who held the managerial position at Brentford, claimed in an exclusive interview that Son Heung-min could transfer to a team promoted from the Championship (second division)." Since joining Tottenham in 2015, he has been a key player for the team. However, this season, Tottenham has plummeted to 14th place in the league and is experiencing its worst slump. They have also been eliminated early from the FA Cup and Carabao Cup, failing to meet fans' expectations. Amid this slump, local reports have questioned Son Heung-min's leadership and suggested that his performance has entered a decline. Moreover, some extreme claims have emerged, stating that if coach Ange Postecoglou is dismissed, Son Heung-min should bear some responsibility. There are even some local fans who are blaming Son Heung-min. After the 0-2 defeat to Fulham, Tottenham News reported, "Son Heung-min's popularity is declining, and fans want his contract to be terminated." Some fans have strongly criticized him, saying, "He must prove himself on the pitch" and "He shows the same reaction every time there is a loss." Son Heung-min has played 448 games for Tottenham, scoring 173 goals and providing 95 assists, establishing himself as a club legend. Since joining in the 2015-2016 season, he has recorded double-digit goals for nine consecutive seasons, and in the 2021-2022 season, he scored 23 goals in the league without a penalty, becoming the Premier League's top scorer, achieving a record as the first Asian player to do so. Additionally, as the current captain of Tottenham, he is demonstrating both performance and leadership.
Romero has been a key defender for Tottenham since the 2021-2022 season. The difference in performance when Romero is present and absent is significant enough due to his strong man-marking and fighting spirit. Last season, after the speedy defender Mickey van de Ven joined, they showed excellent synergy. However, this season, he has been struggling with injuries. Romero returned to action in the 28th round against Bournemouth after getting injured in the match against Chelsea last December. In the meantime, Tottenham's ranking has fallen to 14th place, and they have been eliminated from both the Carabao Cup and FA Cup. Notably, they reached the quarter-finals of the UEFA Europa League (UEL), but Romero's absence was not easily compensated for. Recently, there has been ongoing discord within the club. Although Romero returned after three months, his immediate call-up to the Argentina national team has been increasing dissatisfaction among Tottenham fans.
In January, he also came under scrutiny for criticizing the club's passive recruitment policy in an interview.
Team Talk reported, "Tottenham has set Romero's transfer fee at £60 million (112 billion won). Tottenham is not confident in securing Romero's contract renewal. If he does not agree to a renewal by this summer, they will allow his transfer." According to local media, Tottenham is considering Marc Guéhi (Crystal Palace) as a replacement for Romero.
This season, Tottenham is heading for the worst situation, having dropped to 14th place in the Premier League.
They have been eliminated from all competitions, with only the Europa League remaining.
Football Insider said, "If Tottenham does not win in Europe, there is a likelihood that they will miss out on the Champions League qualification, while chairman Daniel Levy may look to Marco Silva (Fulham) or Andoni Iraola (AFC Bournemouth) to prevent further decline in the Premier League ranking, calling for a managerial change."
It also claimed, "Along with the uncertainty about who will sit on the bench next season, Son Heung-min and Romero are concerned about their futures at the club. This Korean icon has been the most loyal player for years, but Son Heung-min has lost his status. Tottenham does not show the same loyalty to the talisman whose contract ends next summer."
Regarding Romero, it added, "He is attracting interest from Real Madrid. No one can resist the allure of the Champions League 15-time winners once Los Blancos come calling."
Football Insider noted, "There are no signs that Son Heung-min will sign a new contract with Tottenham. Pressure is mounting to bring in a replacement this summer. Tottenham without Son Heung-min? That would probably be blasphemy. However, as the Korean player shows signs of slowing down, Tottenham needs to expedite their search for a substitute."
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