Voices have emerged calling for Tottenham Hotspur to acquire a replacement for Son Heung-min (33). It has been claimed that they cannot afford to miss out on Justin Kluivert (26, Bournemouth).
Tottenham News reported on the 26th (KST) that 'Tottenham may sign off on Son Heung-min's departure after acquiring a £45 million (approximately 85.1 billion won) forward if they can find a suitable replacement.'
Son Heung-min's contract has been extended until the summer of 2026. In January, instead of offering a new contract, Tottenham activated only a one-year extension option. Naturally, this has eliminated the possibility of Son leaving the team as a free agent at the end of this season.
Nevertheless, rumors about Son Heung-min's transfer continue. Tottenham News noted that 'It has been a bleak season for Tottenham. The same could be said for Son Heung-min. He once earned a reputation as one of the best forwards in the Premier League. However, Son's regression is truly unfortunate, and it seems only a matter of time before his Tottenham career comes to an end.'
Son Heung-min is a legend at Tottenham. Since leaving Bayer Leverkusen in 2015 and joining Tottenham, he has scored double-digit goals in the league for eight consecutive seasons, excluding his debut season. His overall record at Tottenham stands at an impressive 448 matches, 173 goals, and 95 assists.
However, it seems that time is also running out for Son Heung-min at Tottenham. He has been struggling this season due to a hamstring injury and overload. As the team is in a severe slump, Son's scoring ability has also diminished.
In the 2024-2025 season, Son Heung-min has recorded 7 goals and 9 assists in 26 league matches. He is providing his teammates with many opportunities through creative passes, but his own finishing has been lacking.
Above all, Tottenham is currently showing its worst performance under manager Ange Postecoglou. The team is in 14th place in the league, having recorded a shocking 15 losses in 29 matches, accumulating only 34 points.
As a result, criticism is directed at Son Heung-min. Doubts about his leadership are being raised, with calls for him to step down from the captaincy also continuing. Even veteran players at Tottenham have joined the ranks of critics, contributing to the pressure on Son from both inside and outside the club.
Amid this, Justin Kluivert has been mentioned as a suitable replacement for Son Heung-min. He is the son of 'Dutch legend' Patrick Kluivert, a world-class forward during his playing days and currently managing the Indonesian national team.
Patrick was a striker who played for Ajax, AC Milan, Barcelona, Newcastle, and other clubs, known for his height of 188 cm. He is now the coach of the Indonesian national team, having abruptly dismissed Shin Tae-yong.
Public sentiment in Indonesia is not good. This is largely due to the controversy surrounding Shin Tae-yong's dismissal. He had led Indonesia to a record of 1 win, 3 draws, and 2 losses in the third qualifying round, putting them in third place in their group, even pulling off a draw against Australia at home.
However, President Erick Thohir decided to replace Shin Tae-yong with Kluivert in order to attract more Netherlands-born naturalized players. This choice was made despite a lack of adequate coaching experience, going against public opinion. Kluivert's debut match resulted in a 1-5 defeat against Australia, but he secured his first win in the second game against Bahrain, winning 1-0.
Like his father, Justin is also active as a forward. However, unlike his father, who was a large athlete, he is a winger standing at 175 cm tall.
Justin possesses impressive speed, dribbling abilities, and excellent proficiency with both feet. He can play both central and wide positions and has the scoring ability to function as a second striker. Since he is also quite good at finishing, there are many similarities to Son Heung-min.
Justin is also one of the key figures behind Bournemouth's remarkable performance this season. He has scored 12 goals and provided 6 assists in 28 Premier League matches, leading the attack for Bournemouth. This is the first time he has achieved double-digit goals in Europe’s top five leagues. Thanks to this, Bournemouth is currently chasing 4th place Chelsea, trailing by only 5 points as they aim for qualification for European tournaments next season.
In particular, his potential has truly burst forth this season. While Justin has played for prestigious clubs like Ajax and AS Roma in the past, unlike his father, he did not stand out early in his career. However, since joining Bournemouth in 2023, he has shown potential with 9 goals in 36 matches and is now displaying even more development this season.
According to the British outlet 'Cut Offside,' Tottenham plans to enter the race to acquire Justin. The outlet explained that 'Liverpool and Tottenham are also strong candidates to sign Justin. Teams interested in him believe he will be a significant asset. They want to acquire him after the end of this season.'
Justin's market value is reported to be around £45 million. As Bournemouth is not in a hurry, it would not be surprising if they demand a higher amount since his contract lasts until the summer of 2028.
Tottenham News argued that they must absolutely attempt to sign Justin. The outlet emphasized that 'Given Justin's skill and age, this is a very reasonable amount,' adding that 'Daniel Levy, the chairman of Tottenham, must push to secure a deal with Justin. Tottenham must reinforce their squad this summer no matter what happens before the end of the season.'
Additionally, Tottenham News added that 'Justin is exactly the type needed. To compete next season, it is essential to have players who can make an immediate impact and improve the squad.'
Tottenham might also pursue Justin along with his coach, Andoni Iraola, at Bournemouth. Earlier, the British 'Telegraph' reported that 'If Tottenham dismiss Postecoglou, Iraola and Marco Silva, the Fulham manager, are prime candidates. As the pressure to remove Postecoglou increases, alternatives are appearing should Tottenham choose to make a change.'
It is also reported that Iraola is interested in the managerial position at Tottenham. According to the Telegraph, Bournemouth also wants to re-sign him, but Iraola is open to joining Tottenham.
If Tottenham really brings in Iraola, they could potentially sign Justin along with him. Tottenham News commented that 'Naturally, Bournemouth may become a point of interest for Tottenham fans. Should Postecoglou be dismissed, Iraola has been linked with Tottenham,' adding that 'If that happens, the possibility of signing Justin increases.'
If Justin joins, this will bolster the impact of Son Heung-min's departure. Tottenham News also stated that 'As with any transfer, Tottenham must acquire a player to replace Son Heung-min. According to the latest news about Justin, it seems that the gears are starting to turn in North London.' They added that 'Signing Justin would allow Tottenham to seek a more suitable place for Son Heung-min's future.'
[Photo] ⓒGettyimages (Prohibition of unauthorized reproduction and redistribution), Tottenham News, Indonesian Football Association, Justin Kluivert's social media.
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