Heung-min Son has been a loyal servant to Tottenham Hotspur for the past decade, but his performances last season raised concerns over his future.
Few can claim to have done more for Tottenham in the 21st century than Heung-min Son. His stats at Spurs are truly remarkable. So much so, that his Premier League tally of seven goals and nine assists last season was actually viewed as disappointing.
Son’s performances over the past season have got people talking about his future, but life at Spurs has not been easy for the Korean international. He lost his long-term strike partner Harry Kane two years ago. The pair smashed records, combining for more goals than any other Premier League duo, as they assisted each other 47 times.
In the 2020/21 season, Son and Kane combined 14 times to find the back of the net. This is the most any two players have assisted one another in a single league campaign.
Son still managed to bag 17 goals and 10 assists in his first season at Tottenham without Kane, but he was largely playing as a striker, rather than as a winger.
Heung-min Son is still one of Tottenham’s top performers
The fact Son played mostly on the wing last season was likely a reason for many of his performances failing to hit the mark. He is noticeably much slower on the ball than he used to be and he has not looked keen to take on the defender. Perhaps if Son was given a different role, he could be more consistent for Tottenham.
Even with Son not performing at his best, he still managed to get more Premier League goals than any other Spurs player except James Maddison, with the pair tied on 16.
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Son was Tottenham’s most creative player in the league, crafting 16 chances for his teammates. He has not looked as threatening in front of goal, but what he has lacked in that department, he has made up for through his creativity.
Heung-min Son should be kept at Spurs for another year unless a hefty bid comes in
It has been reported that Tottenham must not sell Son before facing Newcastle in Seoul in a pre-season friendly. This would mean Spurs would be required to keep hold of their captain until the beginning of August.
However, a move looks ever more likely, as Son has been linked with a move to Saudi Arabia. Spurs are reportedly ready to cash in on the forward, who only has one year remaining on his current contract. Saudi clubs are reportedly willing to offer £34m to land Son this summer.
If Tottenham can pick up a good transfer fee for Son, a transfer could be the right decision. However, Son has shown that despite some underwhelming performances, he is still one of Tottenham’s main attacking threats. Therefore, he should not be sold unless a replacement is signed who is guaranteed to offer goals and assists.
Son is Tottenham’s best-paid player, but he also makes the club a lot in revenue. If it makes sense financially, having him for one more year would certainly be useful, particularly if Thomas Frank decides he wants to keep Son.