"Son Heung-min is not irreplaceable forever."
Football FanCast reported on the 22nd (Korean time) that "Manager Ange Postecoglou and Tottenham Hotspur already have a replacement for Son Heung-min. The era of Son Heung-min is coming to an end."
Son Heung-min has established himself as one of the club's all-time top scorers with 173 goals and 95 assists over 448 matches at Tottenham.
In the 2021-2022 season, he scored 23 goals without a penalty kick, becoming the top scorer in the Premier League, and is currently leading the team as captain.
Separately from Son Heung-min's symbolic meaning, Tottenham is in a slump, having fallen to 14th in the league. They have also exited the FA Cup and Carabao Cup early, failing to meet fans' expectations.
Football FanCast reported that "Tottenham's rebuilding began with the appointment of Manager Postecoglou in 2023 and the transfer of Harry Kane, but there is still a long way to go. Despite numerous injuries and various limitations, Manager Postecoglou has moved away from the boring football of previous managers, presenting dynamic and exciting football, meeting fans' expectations."
Football Insider reported on the 21st that "The core of Tottenham's offense and defense, Son Heung-min and Cristian Romero, could be major departures this summer. Struggling Tottenham is preparing for a major overhaul for the new season under a new managerial system."
It continued, "Tottenham, which finished 5th last year, narrowly missed out on a UEFA Champions League ticket against Aston Villa. They started the season optimistically but have completely regressed this year. Football on the pitch has been miserable, while off the pitch, rumors of Manager Ange Postecoglou’s departure continue to haunt the former Celtic coach."
Tottenham Hotspur News reported on the 20th that "Martin Allen, who managed Brentford, claimed in an exclusive interview with us that Son Heung-min could move to a team promoted from the Championship (second tier)." Since joining Tottenham in 2015, he has been a key player for the team. However, this season, Tottenham has fallen to 14th in the league and is experiencing its worst poor run. They have also exited the FA Cup and Carabao Cup early, failing to meet fans' expectations. Amid this poor performance, there are voices questioning Son Heung-min's leadership or suggesting that his performance has declined. There have also been somewhat extreme claims that if Manager Ange Postecoglou is dismissed, Son Heung-min would bear some responsibility. Even some local fans are criticizing Son Heung-min. After Tottenham's 0-2 loss to Fulham, Tottenham News reported that "Son Heung-min's popularity is declining, and fans want him to have his contract terminated." Some fans expressed strong criticism, saying, "He needs to prove himself on the pitch" and, "He shows the same reaction every time they lose."
Football Insider argued that "If Tottenham does not win in Europa, they could miss out on Champions League qualification, and Chairman Daniel Levy could seek to rely on Marco Silva (Fulham) or Andoni Iraola (AFC Bournemouth) to prevent a decline in Premier League rankings."
"Moreover, there is uncertainty about who will sit on the bench next season, and both Son Heung-min and Romero are worried about their future at the club. This Korean icon has been one of the most loyal players for years, but Son Heung-min has lost his status. Tottenham does not show the same loyalty to a player whose contract ends next summer."
Football FanCast pointed out that "If Manager Postecoglou wants to continue the project, the club's leadership, including Chairman Daniel Levy, needs to recruit players like Mickey van de Ven, Dominic Solanke, and Lucas Berival according to Postecoglou's requests, while also reorganizing players not included in the long-term plan."
It also mentioned Son Heung-min as a possible inclusion in the 'cleanup' list. The media stated, "Of course, Tottenham may feel tempted to bring in a replacement for Son Heung-min from outside, but perhaps a successor to Son Heung-min is already developing within the club."
Football FanCast emphasized, "There is no misunderstanding; Son Heung-min is a legendary figure not only at Tottenham but across the Premier League as a whole. However, just because he has performed at the top for nearly a decade, it does not mean he is irreplaceable forever."
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