Son Heung-min (33, Tottenham Hotspur), who once ruled an era, is now considered a 'grand award' candidate, facing a significant crossroads amid the club's generational transition. Local British media noted that the 'post-Son Heung-min era' is slowly approaching and also mentioned potential successors.

The British media outlet Football FanCast reported on the 22nd (Korean time) that 'Tottenham is already cultivating a replacement for Son Heung-min internally without necessarily bringing someone in from outside,' noting that 'under manager Postecoglou's new era, Son Heung-min may gradually move away from being a core player.'

Son Heung-min has reigned as a symbol of the club since donning the Tottenham uniform in 2015. He has played in 448 matches, scoring 173 goals and providing 95 assists, and emerged as the Premier League's top scorer in the 2021-2022 season with 23 goals, all without penalties. He currently showcases his leadership as the team's captain.

Despite this symbolism, voices expressing that 'time waits for no one' are arising. Football FanCast emphasized that since Son Heung-min will turn 33 next summer, the club naturally needs to prepare for the next generation.

Particularly, there is an analysis indicating a noticeable decline in his dribbling success rate and breakthrough ability. According to the statistics site FBref, Son Heung-min ranks in the bottom 46% among Premier League attacking midfielders and wingers in terms of successful dribbles this season, while his success rate ranks in the bottom 27%. This demonstrates that his penetration skills and ability to exploit spaces, which were once his strengths, are not what they used to be.

Son Heung-min himself expressed confidence in a recent press conference ahead of the 2026 World Cup Asian qualifiers against Oman by saying, 'I feel better than ever,' but his actual performance was somewhat disappointing. He made a critical mistake during the match, further emphasizing the weight of his role as team captain.

In the match against Oman, Son Heung-min attempted a forward pass near the penalty box in the 35th minute of the second half but lost the ball to an opponent, leading directly to Oman's equalizing goal. An even bigger issue was his lack of active participation in the defensive transition following the mistake. In that match alone, Son Heung-min is reported to have lost possession of the ball a staggering 19 times.

Amidst Son Heung-min's struggles, the national team also stumbled at a critical juncture. The South Korean national team, led by coach Hong Myung-bo, drew 1-1 with Oman, missing an early chance to advance to the finals and are now in a position where they must wait until the June international match schedule.

So how is Tottenham preparing for life after Son Heung-min? Football FanCast singled out academy graduate winger Mikey Moore as a noteworthy name. The media noted, 'Moore is a talent that is already close to being fully developed, surpassing simple potential,' praising his growth.

Moore made an impressive mark in the Europa League match against AZ Alkmaar, showcasing impressive dribbling and pressing, even without a goal or assist. Teammate James Maddison likened him to Neymar, stating, 'He is a fearless player.'

His performance on the youth stage is even more remarkable. This season, he has played in 34 matches for the youth team, recording 21 goals and 15 assists, achieving an average of 1.05 attacking points per game, and is evaluated as the most likely resource to lead 'after Son Heung-min.'

The club's philosophy is also changing. While the Son Heung-min and Harry Kane era relied heavily on the individual abilities of star players, under Postecoglou's regime, the focus has shifted to young, fast, and energetic football. Elevating homegrown resources like Moore into core assets is part of that strategy.

Of course, Football FanCast clarified that Son Heung-min is still a great player and a unique figure in Tottenham and South Korean football history. However, it emphasized that even Son Heung-min cannot be exempt from the transitional phase for Tottenham, and decisive action is needed as part of the rebuilding efforts.

In closing, the media reported, 'Tottenham is prepared to fill the void effortlessly with resources like Moore when Son Heung-min retires or when his playing time naturally decreases. Fans need not worry.'

The era of Son Heung-min, which adorned a page of history, is slowly coming to an end. It is now time to prepare to write the next chapter.

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