Daily Mail

Tottenham have had a bid of £34.5million rejected for a talented Como youngster.

As reported by Sky Sport Italia, Thomas Frank's side made the offer for midfielder Nico Paz.

Como boss Cesc Fabregas is eager to keep hold of Paz, who has also been linked with a return to Real Madrid.

Paz progressed through the youth ranks at Real Madrid and the Spanish club have a 50 per cent sell-on clause as well as several buy-back options.

Como emphatically rejected Tottenham's offer for Paz and it is believed that they want a fee of closer to £60million for the 20-year-old.

Paz made eight senior appearances for Real Madrid and the Spanish club have the option to re-sign him for just £7.8million until June 30, 2026 and £8.6million the following year.

In addition, Real also have a 50 per cent sell-on clause for future deals involving Paz.

Real previously decided not to re-sign Paz this summer but a decision has yet to be made regarding a potential future purchase.

A talented creative player who mainly operates as an attacking midfielder, Paz is also capable of playing as a striker or a winger.

Last season Paz made 35 appearances for Como across all competitions and scored six goals, while he provided nine assists.

He has been capped by Argentina at senior level on three occasions.

Tottenham midfielder James Maddison is expected to miss the majority of the rest of the season after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

Maddison suffered a blow to the knee during the pre-season friendly against Newcastle last week.

James Maddison is expected to miss almost the entirety of the new Premier League season after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

The Spurs playmaker, who was forced off on a stretcher after suffering a nasty blow to the knee during Tottenham's pre-season clash with Newcastle last week, will now undergo surgery and begin his lengthy recovery.

Maddison, 28, suffered the injury during an innocuous challenge and Frank confirmed it was sustained to the same knee he had injured last season, a setback which saw him miss the Europa League final win against Manchester United.

He underwent several tests after arriving back in the UK, and the club's initial fears that he had damaged his cruciate ligament have been realised.

It presents a nightmare for new Spurs boss Thomas Frank, who will now be without the influential midfielder for large portions of the campaign.

A Spurs statement read: 'We can confirm that James Maddison will undergo surgery for a ruptured Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) in his right knee.

'The 28-year-old midfielder suffered the injury during our pre-season friendly against Newcastle United on Sunday in Seoul.

'His surgery will take place in the coming days and, following that, James will then begin his rehabilitation with our medical team.

'Everyone at Tottenham Hotspur wishes James a full and speedy recovery. We will be supporting him every step of the way.'

Maddison collapsed to the pitch in agony after rupturing the ligament and his team-mates were visibly distressed while he received treatment from club physios. He was then taken away on a stretcher and had his head buried in his hands.

The England international is then said to have departed the stadium on crutches.

Recovery from the procedure will keep him on the treatment table for several months, but a definitive timeframe has not been confirmed by Spurs.

Frank revealed after the friendly draw with Newcastle that it was a 'bad injury', which cruelly came shortly after Maddison had returned to match fitness.

'I think sometimes life and football can be brutal, but also sometimes very beautiful,' said Frank. 'So I think it was brutal in what happened to Madders. It looks like a bad injury. Of course we don't know exactly the status on it. It didn't look good.'

The hammer blow could force Spurs to turn to the transfer market again, despite them already swooping for Mohammed Kudus from West Ham in a £55million deal.

Spurs also missed out on Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White despite seemingly triggering a release clause. Forest reacted furiously and threatened legal action - and a complaint to the Premier League - over an alleged illegal approach over the player.

Dejan Kulusevski has been ruled out for the start of the season, too, after undergoing knee surgery in May, leaving Frank desperate for creative options.

Maddison scored 12 goals in 45 appearances for Spurs last season, and a damning statistic has revealed just how much they struggle in his absence.

According to Opta, Spurs have won 51 per cent of their top-flight matches with Maddison in the side (24/47) over the past two seasons, compared to just 24 per cent (7/29) without him.

Son Heung-min openly admitted Los Angeles FC were not his first choice destination after deciding to bring his 10-year chapter at Tottenham to an emotional close.

The 33-year-old was officially unveiled by his new side on Wednesday after completing a move worth over £20million - a record fee paid by an MLS club.

It was no secret that he was on his way this summer, and he was spotted in the stands during LAFC's 2-1 win against Tigres the day before the announcement.

Speaking at his introductory press conference in Los Angeles, South Korean legend Son revealed he had to be persuaded to make the move to the United States, before a conversation led to him 'changing his heart' and signing an initial two-year deal.

'They've been absolutely working so hard to get me here to join LAFC,' Son said.

'If I'm honest, it was not my first choice but John [Thorrington, LAFC general manager] was the first call when the season finished and John changed my mind.

'He changed my heart.

'I'm so happy to see all the Korean fans, I was at the game and I saw you supporting like crazy and I wanted to run on the pitch and show my performance.

'I'm here to win and I will perform.

'I will definitely show you something exciting in… are we calling it football or soccer? I will definitely show you some exciting football, and we will have success.'

Son went on to describe the impact his decision to leave Spurs took, recalling feeling 'very empty' after walking away from the club for which he scored 173 goals.

'I felt like I gave it all, but I felt like I needed a new challenge and I chose LAFC,' he added. 'I'm old, but I still have good physicality and I still have good quality.'

Earlier, a teary Son had issued a heartfelt message to Tottenham supporters.

'How to find the right words for this? I don't know. I have been thinking for days. It's impossible. But here I go,' Son wrote.

'It's time for me to say goodbye to Tottenham. My home for the past decade. When I arrived in 2015, I didn't speak English, I didn't know London, but you welcomed me with open arms, believed in me, and stood by me through every high and low.

'I was just a boy from Korea with big dreams who was supposed to have no chance. And now, 10 years later, North London is in my heart forever.

'I've made friends for life here, had the honour of becoming a godfather here, and had the privilege of captaining our special club here. I've poured my heart and soul into this club, which makes this the hardest decision ever.

'I thought if I was ever going to leave, it would have to be on my terms, on the best terms, when our mission had been accomplished together.

'With pride and honour.'

Son will reunite with former Spurs team-mate Hugo Lloris at LAFC.

The Los Angeles side topped the Western Conference last season, but lost to Seattle Sounders in the playoffs before LA Galaxy won the MLS Cup.

Tottenham Hotspur officially confirmed the departure of club legend Son Heung-min on Wednesday evening by sharing a video of the 33-year-old saying goodbye.

The video — which was posted via social media and captioned: 'Dear Spurs fans... Sonny's letter to you' — was accompanied by sombre music.

It began with Son sitting down in front of a camera and saying: 'Dear Spurs fans, you're always in my pictures. Every time I celebrate I make a memory of you. It's our moment. I make the frame, so I don't forget.'

This was a reference to Son's trademark goal celebration, which sees him mime taking a photo. It is a celebration Tottenham supporters have seen a lot, considering Son has netted 173 goals since joining the club from Bayer Leverkusen in 2015.

Son continued: 'You welcomed me to north London, you watched me grow. Beautiful moments; the Golden Boot, the Puskas award... you were there. When I suffered you were still there. You stayed with me and I stayed with you.

'I never imagined captaining this team, but I always dreamed that I would win something for you. We won the Europa League, and you all deserve it. Thank you for these years. Keep every picture. You were always in the frame. Thank you so much, love Sonny.'

Moments after posting the video, Spurs uploaded a 419-word statement on their official club website.

It began: 'The Club can confirm the permanent transfer of Heung-Min Son to LAFC.

'Sonny, 33, arrived at Tottenham Hotspur a decade ago - in August, 2015 - and has since established himself as one of the Club's all-time greats. The South Korea international went on to make 454 appearances in Lilywhite, scoring 173 goals, the fifth-highest tally in our history.

'Appointed captain in 2023, there have been countless memorable moments for Sonny on the pitch during his decade at the Club. In April, 2019, he etched his name into the history books with the first official goal at the new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and later that same season was an integral member of the first Spurs side to reach a Champions League final, scoring important goals in the round of 16 and quarter-final.

'Sonny won the FIFA Puskas Award in 2020 for an extraordinary solo goal against Burnley, which saw him dribble the length of the pitch before finding the net. Both a scorer of great goals and a great goalscorer, he added to his personal accolades in 2021/22, receiving the Premier League Golden Boot for his 23-goal return in the division.

'During his time at the Club, Sonny also became the highest-scoring Asian player in Premier League history and, in addition to leading South Korea to Asian Games success in 2018, has been named 'Best Footballer in Asia' a record nine times.

'Sonny's greatest achievement in our colours came in May, 2025, as he led the Club to UEFA Europa League glory in Bilbao. By doing so, he wrote his name into Spurs folklore, becoming one of 13 captains in our history to lift a major trophy.'

Spurs chairman Daniel Levy was quoted as saying: 'Sonny is one of the greatest players to ever wear the famous Lilywhite shirt and he has been a joy to watch over the past decade. Not only is he a wonderfully gifted footballer, but he's also an incredible human being who has touched hearts and inspired people throughout the Club and all over the world.

'The Europa League triumph in Bilbao was a truly magical moment in the Club's history and Sonny lifting the trophy is a perfect lasting memory from his fantastic decade at Tottenham Hotspur.

'Sonny has given so much to this Club, both on and off the pitch, and for that we are forever grateful. We wish him all the best for the future, and he will always be welcome back at the Club as a beloved and cherished member of our Spurs family.'

Spurs later posted a video of Son's final interview before his move to LAFC. In it he said: 'It's hard to talk because I don't know where to start...

'I grew up in tough places. I came here… one thing was clear, you know, I wanted to give my all. So, as a kid, when I started football, this was always in my head, because performance-wise, I think it could be ups and downs, ups and downs, but I give it my all. I think you can do it every single time. So, this is me and this is how I train, this is how I learned from my parents.

'I came to north London 10 years ago. I was very nervous, to be honest. Before I joined Spurs, I was very young, and having sessions with some teams in England, and it was quite difficult because I couldn't speak English and it felt like everybody just wasn't having me, so I didn't have really good memories in the UK, if I'm honest. But when I went to White Hart Lane - obviously it was still White Hart Lane when I joined - when I walked in, everybody just welcomed me to north London. I had a special feeling, but afterwards I had to do the English interview, so I was quite a bit nervous because I couldn't speak English! I still remember that I just said, 'I'm happy to be here', and I was just so excited.

'I made a brave decision because it was the Premier League and Spurs and (hoping) that everything would come together. Obviously, the fear was still there, but I just wanted to make my fear not exist. My dream was to play in the Premier League, you know, and do whatever I could, try to be the best player in the world. That decision was probably one of the best decisions I've ever made.

Son's £20million-plus move to LAFC makes him the most expensive player in MLS history.

It was no secret that the 33-year-old was on his way this summer. Indeed, he had already been spotted in the stands during LAFC's 2-1 win over Tigres on Tuesday.

Speaking last week before his final appearance for Spurs in a pre-season friendly in his native South Korea, Son broke into tears at a press conference as he declared: 'I have decided to leave the club this summer. Respectfully the club is helping me with this decision.

'It was the most difficult decision I have made in my career. Such amazing memories. It was so hard to make the decision.

'I came to north London as a kid - a very young age, a young boy came to London who even didn't speak English. Leaving this club as a grown man is a very, very proud moment.'

Son will reunite with former Spurs team-mate Hugo Lloris at LAFC.

The Los Angeles side topped the Western Conference last season, but lost to Seattle Sounders in the playoffs before city rivals LA Galaxy won the MLS Cup.

Liverpool are set to successfully defend their Premier League title on the back of a summer of heavy spending.

That's according to Opta's supercomputer, who have given Arne Slot's side a 28.5 per cent chance of winning the title for a third time and a second consecutive season under the Dutchman.

The Reds have taken the opportunity of the summer transfer window to invest heavily in their squad, with the likes of Hugo Ekitike (£79m), Florian Wirtz (£116m) and Milos Kerkez (£40m) among the arrivals so far.

Elsewhere, Jeremie Frimpong (£29.5m) and Giorgi Mamardashvili (£29m) have also joined, while the champions maintain interest in Alexander Isak, who has told Newcastle he is interested in leaving but would again cost well north of £100m.

Arsenal, meanwhile, are expected to be their closest competitors. The Gunners are given a 24.2 per cent chance of finally winning their first title since 2004.

It would be a repeat of last season's table if the supercomputer predictions come to fruition, with Manchester City given an 18.8 per cent chance of returning to the top of the tree - the third most-likely side.

Interestingly, though, first place is the most likely finish for all three sides. While Liverpool are given 19.5 per cent chance of coming second and 14.2 per cent chance of finishing third, Arsenal have 18.7 per cent chance of repeating their second place finish again and 14.7 per cent chance of coming third.

City, who have also invested heavily this summer, are given 17.3 per cent chance of coming second and 14.1 per cent chance of finishing third.

Overall, the three top sides are adjudged to have 72.7 per cent, 68.5 per cent and 62 per cent chance respectively of qualifying for the Champions League, and that will increase by 7.6 per cent, 8.6 per cent and 9.2 per cent chance respectively if the Premier League secures a fifth qualifying spot again.

Predicted to finish fourth, meanwhile, is Chelsea. That again would be a repeat of last season, with Enzo Maresca's men given 8.4 per cent chance of winning the league, 10.4 per cent of coming second, 10.6 per cent of finishing third and 10.9 per cent of a fourth-place finish.

At the other end of the table, City are in fact given 0.2 per cent chance of getting relegated, but the three promoted teams are the favourites.

With Burnley backed to come 18th, they are given 45.9 per cent chance of going down - the lowest of the three sides. Leeds are adjudged to have 48 per cent chance of going down, while Sunderland claim 66.4 per cent and are heavily tipped to finish last at 34.1 per cent.

Two teams who struggled last season were Tottenham and Manchester United, with the Red Devils finishing 15th and Spurs 17th, but getting the better of Ruben Amorim's men in the Europa League final.

According to the supercomputer, that will happen again. United are backed to finish 12th, with Spurs coming 14th under new boss Thomas Frank.

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United are given a 10.7 per cent chance of finishing in the top five next term despite their apparent improvements in pre-season. That increases to 20.5 per cent for a top-seven finish, and 40.3 per cent for the top half.

They are also given 11.1 per cent chance of getting relegated.

Tottenham, meanwhile, are given 9.2 per cent chance of a top-five finish, and that rises to 18 per cent in terms of a top-seven finish. They are given a 35.9 per cent chance of ending up in the top half, and 13.7 per cent chance of being relegated.

Elsewhere, Aston Villa are the team backed to finish fifth with a 38.1 per cent chance of reaching the top five, ahead of Newcastle in sixth and Crystal Palace in seventh ahead of rivals Brighton.

Making up the top half would be Bournemouth and Brentford, with Nottingham Forest 11th ahead of United.

The come Everton in 13th, Fulham in 15th and West Ham in 16, with Wolves occupying the final survival spot.

The architects of the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium regretfully informed Daniel Levy there was no way he could have the glass roof he wanted. Not doable. Can’t happen. Got to be plastic.

Looking chuffed with himself, the Spurs chairman told Gary Neville how he wasn’t having it. How he had too much respect for Mother Earth to do that to her environment. How plastic goes yellow after five years, don’tcha know. How he refused to take no for an answer.

And so the impossible was made possible, because that is the legend of Levy, who has long been renowned for his ruthlessness in the shadows.

But then the construction of the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium – magnificent as it is – was not why supporters tuned in to hear from the elusive chap in the dark green polo sitting next to Gary Neville in Harry Kane’s old box.

They did not want to watch 35 minutes of backslapping fit for the Architectural Digest YouTube channel as Neville asked whether the floor they recycled from their old White Hart Lane site was concrete or resin, or what transfer beams were used, or how he navigated those roof negotiations.

They wanted word on that other glass ceiling of theirs, and we got to the good stuff eventually, after wading through the football regulator chat between Levy and Neville. It is an important issue, as is the ongoing impasse over a deal between the Premier League and EFL.

But then that dry topic would hardly have been the talk of The Bricklayers Arms over a Monday afternoon tipple. It would have been on their own club’s ambitions, on why Ange Postecoglou was sacked after winning the Europa League, on the selection of Thomas Frank as head coach to take them forward, on whether they are willing to spend as big as their counterparts.

They wanted to know whether Levy was ready to break through that barrier, 25 years into his time with Tottenham. Instead what they found was a man speaking with more passion about the buildings than the football.

Indeed when it suited, Levy seemed to distance himself from the footballing side entirely.

The club executive who started the interview by saying he never gets a summer because he is too busy with the transfer window insisted he has no clue why they have not been more successful.

He insisted he is not the one who ‘motivates the team’ or ‘picks the players’, with that responsibility falling on the manager he hires. He added they will support Frank ‘to the best of our ability’, but that they need some ‘luck’ if they are to take this team to the very top.

He insisted the fans’ pain is his pain and that he had to ignore the emotions of their Europa League triumph when sacking Postecoglou and study the ‘data points’ instead. That may not make it into a chant. ‘Data points, you’ll never sing that,’ does not have much of a ring to it.

What may rankle most with supporters, however, is being told that they will appreciate his work when he is no longer in charge. There was little attempt from Levy at winning over his critics in the here and now. Rather it was they won’t realise what they have got ’til it’s gone, as if Levy had been listening to Counting Crows on his way in for this cosy tour.

Look, Neville is no Paxman. He was never going to give Levy the grilling that he could have had.

He has spoken positively about the Tottenham chairman in the past, even bringing up in this interview how he once described him as the ‘best operator in football’ on Sky Sports. It was a great get by The Overlap in association with Sky Bet but somewhat sycophantic, with Levy presumably aware of the topics that would crop up.

My colleague, Riath Al-Samarrai, wrote an excellent column on Levy and Spurs in January, noting how only once in the last five seasons have Tottenham committed upwards of 47 per cent of their revenue on wages and that it is someway short of their Premier League counterparts. Levy was not challenged on that nearly enough for Spurs supporters' liking.

The interview was believed to have been filmed back in June, given we could see that the stadium was being set up for the 50 Cent gig on July 3. The reason for the delay between the filming and release is unknown, but that will explain why there was no tribute to Heung-min Son after the club captain announced he will be leaving Tottenham.

Finishing with them staring at the Europa League trophy, Levy spoke of wanting to take Tottenham to the next level. Talk is cheap, and you suspect this interview will not stop Spurs supporters from maintaining that Levy is too.

Tottenham forward Mathys Tel squandered a golden one-on-one opportunity during Spurs’ preseason clash with Newcastle on Sunday.

Thomas Frank’s side were held to a 1-1 draw in the final game of their Far East tour - a match that may poetically mark Son Heung-Min’s farewell appearance for the club, following his announced departure on Saturday in his homeland of South Korea.

Brennan Johnson scored Spurs' only goal of the game, opening the scoring within seven minutes, before Harvey Barnes pulled one back for Newcastle late in the first half.

Before that, Tel had a huge chance to double Spurs’ lead after being played in behind by Pedro Porro.

The French forward collected the ball near the halfway line and charged unopposed toward the Newcastle box.

As he entered the penalty area, he attempted a stepover feint to wrong-foot Nick Pope - but the goalkeeper read it easily, and Tel’s tame finish was saved without fuss.

Tottenham fans took to social media to lay into their striker, with many fearing that Tel's miss may be a sign of struggles to come next season. One supporter wrote on X: 'It is a preseason friendly but that was pretty dreadful!'

A second commented: 'Should have chipped it or gone around the keeper. Terrible decision making.'

A third asked: 'How does he not finish that? Gives you little confidence he's going to get any numbers again.'

Another said: 'That's why he is nowhere close to the required Premier League level. Million miles away from a top player.'

With their draw against Newcastle, Spurs extended their unbeaten preseason run, having recently beaten rivals Arsenal 1-0. Their other games yielded two draws - against Luton and Wycombe - and a win against Reading.

Frank's men face Bayern Munich in a preseason friendly at the Allianz Arena next Thursday, before squaring off against Paris Saint-Germain in the Super Cup final on August 13.

Their Premier League season then begins at home to Burnley just three days later.

Tottenham captain Son Heung-min found himself employed as a piece of exercise equipment by a combat sports star during the club's pre-season tour of South Korea.

On Saturday morning Son announced that he would leave Spurs after a decade in north London to seek out a new challenge.

The 33-year-old has been linked with MLS side Los Angeles FC and is understood to favour a move stateside as his time in the Premier League comes to a close.

On Sunday Spurs face Newcastle in a pre-season clash at the Seoul World Cup Stadium, with a sell-out crowd of 66,000 fans expected to be in attendance.

However, before he can bow out in front of his countrymen Son and his Tottenham team-mates were treated to some pre-match festivities in the South Korean capital, including meeting a bonafide giant.

As the team were completing media duties, Son met up with combat sports star Choi Hong-man.

The 7ft 2in 2005 K-1 Seoul Grand Prix winner subsequently proceeded to lift Son into his arms and cradle the winger like a baby.

An embarrassed Son could only hide his laughter as the assembled photographers rushed to get a shot of the bizarre sight.

Choi was later seen play fighting with some of Son's team-mates including Pape Mata Sarr, who was trapped in a bearhug by the 350lb colossus.

Despite his extensive kickboxing background the 44-year-old Choi is most famous for his forays into MMA between 2006 and 2016.

During that time Choi fought arguably the two greatest heavyweight fighters of the era, Fedor Emelianenko and Mirko Cro Cop.

The 44-year-old was also scheduled to be Brock Lesnar's first MMA opponent when the WWE transitioned from the world of professional wrestling in 2007.

A pre-fight medical screening ultimately scuppered the bout however due to a tumor to his pituitary gland that was later removed through surgery.

The friendly between Spurs and Newcastle kicks off tomorrow at 12pm BST.

Speaking ahead of the game Tottenham boss Thomas Frank heaped praise on his departing captain.

'I think it's very clear,' Frank said. 'It's no secret that Sonny will start and will lead the team out as captain.

'I'm looking forward to that in many ways and if it is to be the last game for Sonny, what a place to do it in South Korea, his home country in front of his home fans.

'That could potentially be a beautiful ending. First and foremost with the biggest respect to Sonny and what he's done for the club.'

Dele Alli's football rollercoaster has taken another sad twist, with the former England international reportedly contemplating retirement after being left out of Como's pre-season plans ahead of the new Serie A campaign.

Dele, 29, joined the ambitious Italian side in January on an 18-month deal with the option of a further year, but his future in the game is now in serious doubt after a dramatic decline in fortunes.

Once regarded as one of Europe's brightest midfielders, the former Tottenham star has struggled to rediscover his form and fitness in recent years.

His most recent setback came in March when he was sent off just nine minutes into his long-awaited Serie A debut for Como in a clash against AC Milan at San Siro — his first competitive appearance in more than two years.

The red card, shown following a VAR review after a foul on Ruben Loftus-Cheek, drew a furious reaction from Como boss Cesc Fabregas and marked a turning point in Dele's brief Italian adventure.

He has since fallen out of favour and, despite returning to training after injury, has not been included in Fabregas' first-team plans for the 2025–26 season.

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the midfielder is now seriously considering retirement, less than four years after he left Tottenham in January 2022.

The Italian outlet claims Dele has been training separately from the senior squad alongside other out-of-favour players and is weighing up whether it is time to walk away from the game for good.

It marks a sobering chapter in a career once full of promise.

Dele burst on to the scene at MK Dons before earning his big move to Spurs in 2015, where he shone under Mauricio Pochettino.

He enjoyed a remarkable 2016–17 season, scoring 22 goals in all competitions and establishing himself as one of the most exciting young midfielders in Europe.

The Englishman later played a key role in Tottenham's run to the Champions League final in 2019 and earned 37 caps for England, including appearances at the 2018 World Cup.

But a string of injuries, loss of form and off-field struggles derailed his rise.

His spell at Everton yielded little, and a loan move to Turkish side Besiktas in 2022 also ended without success after a serious groin injury sidelined him for almost a year.

Dele spoke candidly last year about his traumatic childhood, revealing in an emotional interview that he had been molested at the age of six, started smoking and dealing drugs by eight, and had attempted to take his own life during his darkest moments.

His move to Como was seen as a fresh start — a chance to relaunch his career in a more serene setting under the guidance of Fabregas.

Early signs were promising as he impressed in training camps and looked sharp following the winter break.

But the sending-off against Milan proved costly, and his time in Italy has since unravelled.

Dele still has a year left on his contract with Como, but it remains to be seen whether he will play again.

As things stand, one of English football's great early hopes faces the very real prospect of hanging up his boots before his 30th birthday.

The sight of James Maddison was too much for one South Korean Tottenham fan to handle as Spurs touched down in the country to an incredible reception.

Owing to the near God-like status of Spurs skipper Son Heung-min in his homeland, Tottenham enjoy a huge following in South Korea and the level of affection for its players was evident as they continued their pre-season tour of Asia.

In scenes akin to the Beatles' 1964 arrival in the United States, Tottenham' stars were welcomed by a throng of passionate supporters desperate for pictures, autographs and in at least one case, to give a gift.

Such was the case for one supporter who broke down in tears after handing Maddison what appeared to be a large framed painting of the England international kissing the Europa League trophy the club sealed last term.

In a state of shock, the whimpering of the supporter, barely in control of his motor functions, did not stop even when posing for a photo with the 28-year-old.

Skipper Son unsurprisingly received the greatest reception but there was still plenty of affection to go around for the likes of Lucas Bergvall, Richarlison and Pedro Porro, who were all beckoned to sign autographs by the adoring masses.

Spurs made short trip from Hong Kong to Seoul after their 1-0 win over bitter rivals Arsenal at the Kai Tak Sports Stadium on Thursday.

The squad will face Newcastle at Seoul's World Cup Stadium on Sunday afternoon, which could be final time supporters get to see Son in a Tottenham shirt amid continued uncertainty over his future in North London.

The 33-year-old is wanted by MLS side LAFC and Spurs will not stand in his way if he wants to leave and a deal can be struck.

There has been no formal bid from the MLS club, but there has been contact to declare an interest in signing the forward as they search for a new star striker after losing former Arsenal and Chelsea centre forward Olivier Giroud to Lille.

LAFC are reported to be preparing a deal in the region of £15-20million which could be enough to tempt Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy into talks.

Son is into the final year of his contract in North London and having scored 173 goals in 454 games and lifted the Europa League in May his status as a legend in N17 is guaranteed.

He has been a commercial phenomenon and there was no prospect of him leaving before the pre-season tour to Asia.

Once they return, the question of his exit will become more urgent.

Spurs will take account of everything Son has done for the club. If it is a move he wants to happen they will try to help him achieve it, although Levy will not allow that to undermine any fee.

There is new chapter unfolding under Thomas Frank, who did little to quell the feeling Son would leave the club before end of the transfer window when he spoke earlier this month.

Tottenham jet off to Germany for their final pre-season fixture against Bayern Munich next week ahead of the UEFA Super Cup against Paris Saint-Germain in Udine on August 13.