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The Spurs skipper is ready for a new challenge after ending the club’s long trophy drought

Skipper: Heung-min Son

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George Sessions

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Tottenham captain Heung-min Son has revealed he will leave the club this summer.

Son has spent the last decade at Spurs and achieved his goal of silverware in May when he helped the Premier League team to Europa League success with a 1-0 victory over Manchester United.

LIVE BLOG: All the latest transfer news and rumours

It ended a 17-year trophy drought for the club and South Korea captain Son explained his decision to target a "fresh challenge" during a press conference in his home country ahead of Tottenham's pre-season friendly with Newcastle on Sunday.

After Spurs arrived in Seoul on Friday, Son - following a remarkable 454 appearances and 173 goals for the north London club - confirmed his desire to depart this summer, with MLS outfit LAFC understood to be leading the race for his signature.

Son told a press conference: "Before we start, I wanted to say 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 this decision.

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He continued: "I need a new environment to push myself. I need a little bit of change - 10 years is a long time.

"I came to north London as a kid, 23 years old, such a young age. I leave the club as a grown man, a very proud man.

"I want to say thanks to all the Spurs fans for giving me so much love. I hope the goodbye is also good timing and this is the right time to make that decision. I hope everyone can accept and respect that."

Tears: Heung-min Son was visibly emotional at the South Korea press conference

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New Tottenham head coach Frank confirmed Son would start and be captain in Sunday's friendly with Newcastle at Seoul's World Cup Stadium.

It could be Son's final appearance for Spurs, despite the UEFA Super Cup fixture with Paris St Germain in Udine on the horizon on August 13.

Frank said: "It's very clear that Sonny will start and lead the team out as captain. If that is the last game for Sonny, what a place to do it here in front of his home fans. It could be a beautiful ending."

Son joined Tottenham in 2015 from Bayer Leverkusen and after a tricky debut campaign, he quickly became a fan favourite and subsequently a modern-day Premier League great due to his consistency and personality, clinching the golden boot award in the 2022-23 season, but he is now set to exit after 10 years in north London.

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Heung-min Son makes what is likely to be his final appreciate in a Tottenham shirt when Spurs play Newcastle in a pre-season friendly in South Korea. Son has confirmed he has decided to leave Spurs this summer but he will feature when Thomas Frank’s side face Newcastle in the final game of their tour of Asia, on what is sure to be an emotional day in Seoul.

Spurs are looking to build on their 1-0 win over Arsenal in Hong Kong, where there were plenty of encouraging signs ahead of the new season. With less than two weeks until Spurs face Paris Saint-Germain in the Super Cup, Frank is targeting another good display.

Newcastle are without star striker Alexander Isak amid transfer interest from Liverpool. Eddie Howe’s side have endured a difficult pre-season and Isak is back in England as he waits on a new bid from Liverpool after their opening offer of £110million was rejected this week. Follow the game LIVE below with our dedicated match blog, featuring expert insight and analysis.

Heung-min Son is set to start for Tottenham in South Korea in what could be his final appearance for the club, as they take on Newcastle in a pre-season friendly in his homeland

Son has confirmed he wants to leave Spurs after captaining them to Europa League glory last season - their first piece of silverware in 17 years. MLS outfit LAFC are leading the race for his signature.

Son has only started once this summer amid uncertainty over his future, and played just under a quarter of an hour in a midweek friendly win over Arsenal.

But the 33-year-old is expected to start against Newcastle, while head coach Thomas Frank will hope Dominic Solanke can return from an ankle issue. Solanke last appeared in a 2-0 win over Reading.

Frank has little reason to rotate his back line after they battled to an impressive clean sheet in the Arsenal friendly. Djed Spence did well against Bukayo Saka, while Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero, and Pedro Porro will likely keep their places.

The same can be said of Pape Matar Sarr. The Senegalese has scored three goals so far in pre-season, including a halfway-line lob against Arsenal.

While Spurs were solid in defence last time out, they were not at their sharpest in attack, and Frank could look to rotate. James Maddison made his injury return off the bench and could slot in higher up the pitch from the off, while Lucas Bergvall has struggled to assert himself in these summer friendlies so far.

Brennan Johnson is also in line for a greater contribution; however, whether he is deserving of a start over Mohamed Kudus is up for debate.

Wilson Odobert showed flashes of threat against Arsenal, rattling the post in the first half, but should make way for Mathys Tel to get some minutes in the legs.

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A calm, more assured approach kept the Gunners quiet in Hong Kong

Sturdy: Cristian Romero kept Bukayo Saka quiet

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Matt Verri

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The celebrations were somewhat more muted than those seen in Bilbao ten weeks earlier, but Tottenham fans could once again enjoy the sight of Heung-min Son lifting a trophy above his head.

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If watching his side beat Arsenal to win the Herbalgy Trophy ultimately goes down as one of the most successful days of Thomas Frank’s tenure then things will not have gone to plan, but this was an important foundation block to build on.

Spurs fans could have been forgiven for having some caution heading into the north London derby in Hong Kong.

Pre-season performances up to this point had been largely uneventful. There has also been justifiable frustration on the transfer front, with the club yet to add to the signing of Mohammed Kudus earlier in the summer.

However, with just under two weeks to go until the UEFA Super Cup showdown with PSG, Spurs produced a display to offer real encouragement as the new season looms.

Gameplan: Thomas Frank’s side stifled the GUnners

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Most notable in the 1-0 win over Arsenal was the defensive structure on show from Spurs. The Gunners mustered just one shot on target, a tame effort from Kai Havertz straight at Guglielmo Vicario.

The likes of Kudus and Wilson Odobert worked hard to track back and double up on the Arsenal wingers, while Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven both dealt superbly with any crosses into the box.

It can be easy to read too much into pre-season matches, but this felt like something of a blueprint for how Frank could set his side up this season, particularly against tougher opposition.

“Some of the bits we have been working hard on is the combination of defensive organisation,” Frank said after the match.

“So high pressure, middle, low, then that desire to keep a clean sheet. That gives you a bigger opportunity to win matches.”

Spurs’ best performances towards the end of last season, primarily in the Europa League, came when Ange Postecoglou abandoned his usual principles.

Winner: Spurs were rarely troubled after the opening 20 minutes

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They had barely 30 per cent of possession when beating Bodo/Glimt away from home to reach the final, and a similar approach had been used to get past Eintracht Frankfurt in the quarter-finals.

With fast attackers, hard-working midfielders, and two elite centre-backs in Romero and Van de Ven, Spurs have a squad capable of soaking up pressure and picking their moments on the counter. Midfielder Joao Palhinha should soon join on loan from Bayern Munich.

That threat on transition was not regularly evident against Arsenal, particularly in the second half, and the main danger came from set-pieces. Spurs twice almost scored directly from a corner in the first half.

Frank will want to see more of an impact from open play in the coming weeks and months and there will also be times where a more front-footed approach is required, certainly when Burnley visit north London on the first day of the Premier League season.

There was, though, a solidity to Spurs that was too often lacking last season. They sat back and soaked up pressure but this was not desperate, last-ditch defending.

Frank will be encouraged by the performance and can be expected to deploy a similar game plan against PSG for the Super Cup. A similar result and another trophy would send Spurs into the new season in a buoyant mood.

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The new Premier League season is just two weeks away and the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United are all working hard on completing deals before the big kick-off. The Gunners finally have their much-needed striker, and £64million man Viktor Gyokeres made his debut in Thursday's pre-season defeat to Tottenham. Next on the hitlist is Eberechi Eze, but the Crystal Palace star's £68m release clause expires today, so Arsenal have some work to do.

Liverpool, meanwhile, are working on a first formal offer for Alexander Isak, who is desperate to leave Newcastle. A second British-record-beating deal is in the offing, and this one could cost upwards of £135. Newcastle want Benjamin Sesko has his replacement, though Man United are doing all they can to snap up the RB Leipzig striker.

Chelsea are closing in on the double signing of Jorrel Hato and Xavi Simons, and retain an interest in Alejandro Garnacho. The spending does not stop. Tottenham are also closing on the signing of a new midfielder with Joao Palhinha open to joining on loan from Bayern Munich. Follow the latest transfer news, gossip and rumours live below!

Latest transfer news headlines

Chelsea's bomb squad

Enzo Maresca reportedly wants 15 players to leave Stamford Bridge this summer.

Nico Schira reports that the Italian has compiled a list of names that he wants gone before the transfer window slams shut.

They are:

Christopher Nkunku

Axel Disasi

Benoît Badiashile

Lesley Ugochukwu

Ben Chilwell

Raheem Sterling

Alfie Gilchrist

Carney Chukwuemeka

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall

Nicolas Jackson

Marc Guiu

Renato Veiga

Aaron Anselmino

Armando Broja

David Datro Fofana

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Chelsea send Sarr on loan

New Chelsea arrival Mamadou Sarr has been shipped out on loan to sister club Strasbourg.

The centre-back joined the Blues from the French side this summer, but has immediately been loaned back to the Ligue 1 club.

How Arsenal defeat can be good for new signings

Arsenal were dealt a shock 1-0 defeat by Spurs in Hong Kong yesterday, where Viktor Gyokeres made his debut from the bench.

Noni Madueke will join his new team-mates on their return from Asia.

But how can the defeat be spun into a positive, and what opportunities does it present for their new arrivals?

Simon Collings has all the answers here...

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Isak ready to trigger 'nuclear option' to force Liverpool move

Alexander Isak is prepared to unilaterally terminate his contract with Newcastle in order to sign for Liverpool.

According to The Mirror, such is the Swede's deperation to leave St James' Park for Anfield, he is considering what has been described as a "nuclear" option to force the move.

Isak is currently training alone in Spain with a personal trainer to keep his fitness up for the Premier League champions.

Liverpool want to sign Isak but, as yet, no formal bid has been submitted.

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DONE DEAL

Sunderland have announced the signing of goalkeeper Robin Roefs from NEC Nijmegen.

The deal is reportedly worth around £11million, including add-ons.

Roefs is expected to be first-choice goalkeeper.

The 22-year-old becomes Sunderland's eighth summer signing following the arrivals of Reinildo Mandava, Chemsdine Talbi, Noah Sadiki, Enzo Le Fee, Habib Diarra, Simon Adingra and Granit Xhaka.

Palhinha set for Spurs medical today

More on Tottenham’s move for Joao Palhinha as the Bayern midfielder is set to undergo a medical today.

Dom Smith reports that Spurs have agreed a deal with the German giants to sign the midfielder on loan with an option to buy.

Palhinha, who had interest from elsewhere, made his intention to join Spurs clear once he heard of their interest in him.

Spurs will cover Palhinha’s full wages and have an option to make the move more permanent next season, reportedly for £26million (€30m).

Palhinha joined Bayern for an initial £43.2m fee last summer, representing a club-record player sale for Fulham.

Read more here!

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Moore on Rangers move

“I’m excited to get going. As soon as I heard Rangers were interested and wanted me to come, it was a massive opportunity for me.

“I’m excited to be here and hopefully I can show the fans and everyone what I can do.

“I think with the new boss and the way that we play, it’s a great place to be at the minute. It was a pretty easy decision for me to come here.”

DONE DEAL! Young Spurs star Moore joins Rangers on loan

Young Tottenham star Mikey Moore has joined Rangers on loan for the season.

Moore moves to Scotland with a big reputation, having become Spurs’ youngest ever Premier League debutant in May 2024.

He scored his first goal during last season’s run to Europa League glory.

Action Images via Reuters

Chelsea to miss out on Ardon Jashari

Chelsea have been monitoring Club Brugge's Ardon Jashari, but look set to miss out on the midfielder.

The Blues were reportedly weighing up making a move to sign the 23-year-old, with Bayer Leverkusen also interested.

But journalist Sacha Tavolieri reports that Jashari only has eyes for AC Milan, who are expected to seal his signature.

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Spurs move to hijack Kolo Muani move

Tottenham are looking to hijack Juventus' permanent move for Randal Kolo Muani.

Kolo Muani spent the second half of last season on loan at Juve from Paris Saint-Germain, having rejected advances from Spurs. and proved a success.

The striker scored five goals in his first three games and finished wtih a flurry at the Club World Cup, so Juve are keen to sign the player permanently.

However, Mediaset report that uncertainty over Dusan Vlahovic's future in Turin is delaying a deal getting over the line and Spurs sense an opportunity. PSG want €50million to sell, or with an obligation to buy on a loan deal.

Manchester United and Newcastle, who are battling for Sesko, are also monitoring the situation.

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