 |
| 사진=원풋볼 |
|
Tottenham may really plan to clean up for a big transfer fee if Son Heung-min starts to decline.
Recently, there is a lot of interest in the UK regarding Son Heung-min's contract. Re-signing with Tottenham seemed only a matter of time as Son Heung-min again reported a brilliant revival of 17 goals and 10 assists in the English Premier League (EPL) alone in the 2023-2024 season. Local media in the UK also predicted that Son Heung-min and Tottenham's renewal negotiations will conclude smoothly.
At the end of the season, the atmosphere changed. Predictions are growing that Tottenham will invoke a one-year contract extension clause, not a contract renewal with Son Heung-min. British Football Insider said on the 30th (Korea time) 'According to sources, Tottenham is expected to invoke Son Heung-min's contract extension clause. Son Heung-min reported that his contract will expire next summer, but due to this extension, he will be at Tottenham until the 2025-2026 season.
Analysts say Tottenham's invocation of a one-year extension clause, not a renewal of contract with Son Heung-min, who was born in 1992, is because he is not sure about Son's performance in the future. When the upcoming season begins, Son Heung-min is 32 years old. If Son Heung-min does not suddenly fall into a slump or suffer a major injury, he will show world-class skills again, but he cannot predict what the future of the player will really be.
The sluggishness and injuries that come to young players can be overcome. This is because there are many days left to spend my career, and my ability to recover my body is still alive. Players over 30 are different. Recovery is slow, and when the slump begins, it is fatal. If Tottenham's recent reports in several media outlets are true, Tottenham seems to be questioning whether Son Heung-min will play for a long time in the future.
In response, Tottenham plans to activate a one-year extension clause to watch Son Heung-min in the 2024-2025 season and decide his future with Son Heung-min. This is because if Son Heung-min does not perform as expected next season, he can clean up Son Heung-min in the transfer market next summer and bring a new player at that cost.
It will be a terrible scenario for Korean soccer fans who support Son Heung-min, but there are strong predictions that Tottenham may sell Son Heung-min to Saudi Arabia. Keith Wynes, who served as Everton president in the past, said in a Football Insider that "the biggest option would be Saudi Arabia. Tottenham will be aware of that. For various reasons, Son Heung-min is a player who requires a very high transfer fee from Saudi Arabia. Son Heung-min will be the most important factor in the negotiations"The Saudis will still want to take Son Heung-min."
"In football, things that mean a lot often happen backstage, and you have to pay attention to them. I think Tottenham will give him a two-year contract, but Saudi is definitely an option" he added.
A similar outlook was given in the British team talk, which reported on Son Heung-min's renewal. 'The opportunity to sell to Saudi Arabian clubs and generate significant fees may be attractive. Son Heung-min himself may be more willing to earn a high salary in the Middle East considering his retirement is a year closer.
It is true that Saudi Arabia is aiming for Son Heung-min, but Son Heung-min is a player who does not want to go to Saudi Arabia. When Son wanted Son Heung-min at RT Hard a year ago, Son Heung-min said he would not go to Saudi Arabia himself, putting an end to rumors of a transfer.
However, from Tottenham's point of view, Saudi Arabia spends a lot of money recruiting players, so if Son Heung-min is sold, it is beneficial to sell it to Saudi Arabia. If you move to another big club, you will have to take the risk of being hit by a boomerang, but Saudi Arabia is not in a position to face Tottenham.
Rumors of a Saudi sale are only speculations at the moment, but local predictions are that Tottenham can gain an edge over players in future contract renewal negotiations if it invokes a one-year extension. TeamTalk will activate a one-year option under Son Heung-min's contract. Once completed, Son will be tied to Tottenham until 2026. If this option is enabled, Tottenham's negotiating position will be better in discussions on a long-term contract with Son Heung-min, analysts said.
It is difficult to demand a high-level salary increase in negotiations with the club because the older the player, of course, is more difficult to be offered a multi-year contract. If the performance is not as good as before, most of them cut their salary. It is true that if Son Heung-min fails to show the same performance as in the past in the 2024-2025 season, he is likely to lower or freeze his salary even if he renews his contract.
Tottenham, which is very thorough and demanding in terms of the size of the team's annual salary, can fully plan such a plan. Until now, Tottenham have not been such a good club in terms of legendary treatment. Since the start of Daniel Levy's presidency, Tottenham has not been a club that prefers to re-sign players in their 30s or older.
rlaeotlr2024@sportschosun.com
