Son Heung-min will be the transfer story of the summer at Tottenham, whether he leaves North London or not.
The South Korean has etched his name into Spurs history after an astonishing 10-year spell, capped off with the Europa League trophy.
However, his future is in doubt after reports emerged of crunch talks between Son and new Tottenham manager Thomas Frank.
While his immediate future hangs in the balance, there is a defining factor that will dictate his stay.
Son Heung-min obliged to play in South Korea tour
If Son is to leave the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, then he will have some mega-money moves on the table.
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First, however, Son is due to play in Spurs’ tour of South Korea, with one match set to net Daniel Levy over £1million.
Football finance expert Dan Plumley has provided further insight into the tour and the forward’s future, as he is contractually obliged to feature on the tour.
“Yes, absolutely,” he exclusively told Tottenham News when asked if Levy would squeeze every last penny out of Son.
“Especially if he’s contractually advised to play in it, then you can see why the club would be looking to hold on to him for that.
“The other side of this transfer situation is that Spurs will have their own internal numbers on this about how valuable he has been for them throughout the course of his time at Spurs off the pitch as well.
“This is not the first time we’ve seen Spurs tour over there. It’s not the first time we’ve seen brand association links between Son and other partners that are connected to Spurs.
“It’s absolutely that off the pitch factor of the player, and it wouldn’t surprise me at all if he is contractually obliged to play in this tournament, and that if he is to leave, then that happens after said tournament.”
Should Tottenham sell Son after South Korea tour?
It is genuinely tough to call whether Son will be a Tottenham player next season under Frank.
While there are bound to be offers on the table, he still holds value in his leadership and quality on the pitch.
Of course, the 32-year-old has shown signs of decline, but Tottenham need big characters to guide them through a new era.
Furthermore, the proposition of Champions League football will mean Frank needs his most effective players.
Considering he has one year remaining on his deal, Son has a big decision to make on his future.