Son Heung-min's popularity in Saudi Arabia is heating up. Son Heung-min's popularity in Saudi Arabia is heating up as a substitute for Cristiano Ronaldo (Alnasr). While there are predictions that he could be a substitute for Cristiano Ronaldo (Alnasr), there were also local reports that the winner of the Saudi league and the runner-up were aiming for Son Heung-min at the same time.
Saudi media Salati reported on the 31st (Korea time) that "Altihad and Al Hilal are competing to recruit Son Heung-min," adding, "Altihad has joined the list of clubs interested in recruiting Son Heung-min. The most notable club is Al Hilal," adding, "Tottenham will also not oppose selling Son Heung-min for a large amount in the next summer's transfer market."
Saudi clubs' love calls for Son Heung-min seem to be getting stronger recently.
On the 29th, the British Sun reported, "Tottenham Hotspur is seriously considering transferring Son Heung-min to Saudi Arabia this summer. Saudi clubs are interested in recruiting Son Heung-min, and Tottenham is willing to approve the release if a large offer is made."
Son Heung-min beat Manchester United on the 22nd to win the UEFA Europa League and held his first trophy in 10 years since joining Tottenham. He became a great captain who broke Tottenham's long jinx for 17 years, and will forever be recorded as the captain who led the team to the European competition for the third time in the club's history.
Son Heung-min, who had already built the golden top of the Premier League scoring list for the first Asian player, was added with the only "winning trophy," and his career at Tottenham was truly at its peak.
It is no exaggeration to say that there is nothing more to be achieved at Tottenham. He became the first non-European captain in the club's history to lead the team for two seasons wearing the captain's armband, and participated in 454 games in total to rank the club's legend. Just before entering the twilight of his career, he even put together the final puzzle with the much-cherished trophy. He has already experienced his personal best honor as the Premier League's top scorer, and has left a mark in the club's history by setting a phenomenal record of double-digit scoring in the league for eight consecutive seasons.
The prevailing analysis is that it is time to think about a new chapter in soccer life. He has accumulated enough fame on the European stage. Now, no one can blame him even if he makes a choice to pursue practicality as a player.
Tottenham also must be aware of the symbolism and fans' absolute support that Son Heung-min occupies in the team. However, they have to tap the realistic calculator. In January, Tottenham extended Son's contract with Son by one more year until 2026. However, Son is already in his mid-30s. He will be 34 years old when his contract ends.
In particular, there is a cold assessment that there is a shadow of deterioration in performance due to age this season. Due to frequent minor injuries and noticeable physical decline, the double-digit scoring streak, which had been going on for eight consecutive seasons in the league, has stopped for the first time in nine seasons. For Tottenham, the last chance to cash in Son Heung-min at the highest ransom with about a year left before the contract expires is this summer's transfer market. From January next year, free negotiations with other clubs will be possible under Boseman's rules, and they will have to endure the worst-case scenario of having to leave the team without a penny of transfer fees when the contract expires.
This situation is a golden opportunity for the Saudi Arabian League, which is armed with oil money. In the UK, Tottenham is also expected to turn to ease the burden of Son Heung-min's high weekly pay and at the same time collecting heavy transfer fee income.
The Guardian, a leading British newspaper, said, "Tottenham can consider reducing Son Heung-min's high weekly salary burden and earning transfer fee income," adding, "This summer feels like the best time to part ways for both the club and Son Heung-min." Spurs Web, which specializes in Tottenham news, also said, "Son Heung-min's weekly salary has now reached an excessive level," adding that the club cannot avoid salary cuts or transfer decisions.
In this situation, Saudi Arabia's love call is getting stronger.
British talk sports reported that the Saudi league had selected Son Heung-min early as a new superstar to replace Liverpool after Liverpool's recruitment of Mohamed Salah virtually fell through.
"Saudi billionaires want to make Son Heung-min the long-term successor of Cristiano Ronaldo, whose future is uncertain in Alnasr," The Sun said. As Son Heung-min is a symbolic icon representing Far East Asia, he added that it is the best card to help the Saudi league's global box office.
Recently, even more specific movements have been detected.
According to Saudi Sabah Arabi, Al-Itihad, who won the Saudi professional league with Karim Benzema this season, and Al-Hilal, one of the strongest clubs in Asia, are reportedly in fierce competition for Son Heung-min.
"After failing to recruit Salah, the two clubs are competing to recruit a Tottenham star and a player who will become a legend of the Saudi league," the media said. "The two teams submitted a large financial offer worth 50 million pounds (about 93.1 billion won) to recruit Son Heung-min. It is noteworthy that Son Heung-min is very popular in East Asia."
Both RT Hard and Al Hilal have brought in world-class stars based on their enormous financial power. This time, they are revealing their ambition to further raise the league's status by recruiting Son Heung-min.
In particular, RT Hard offered Son Heung-min an astronomical proposal worth a total of 240 billion won for four years two years ago, but Son Heung-min rejected it at the time, citing his challenge to the European stage. However, now that the situation has changed, RT Hard is reported to be more actively courting Son Heung-min.
In addition, with the addition of traditional powerhouse Al Hilal, Son Heung-min's ransom is likely to soar through the roof. 스포츠토토