Criticism of Son Heung-min is intensifying. Tottenham also put a condition on renewing his contract amid criticism.
Dan Kilpatrick, a reporter for the British Evening Standard, reported on Son Heung-min on the 17th (Korean time), saying, “Son Heung-min, who is suffering from a slump, must step up at Tottenham’s decisive moment.”
Kilpatrick pointed to Son’s poor performance against Arsenal and said: ‘It was an evening fitting for a tough season for Son’, adding: ‘It’s hard to shake the feeling that Son lacks confidence, is slower than usual, and is playing in his own way. It would have been great if Tottenham could have shown Son Heung-min to do the way Harry Kane has scored 30 league goals in the last few games. There are still long-term concerns about Son’s form, and Totenmer has entered a critical period,’ he said, pointing to Son’s poor form.
It was also claimed that if Son Heung-min did not improve his performance, he would be removed from the team. On the 18th, The Boy Hotspur reported that “Son Heung-min can renew his contract with Tottenham only if he meets one of the conditions of Gaza,” and “There has been speculation for months about the status of Son’s contract, and Tottenham has announced the option of a one-year extension. In such a situation, there is a possibility that Son Heung-min could leave Tottenham for a small amount of £10 million (about 17 billion won), and the reaction to his contract extension is also somewhat strange. Tottenham insider John Wenham believes Son’s performance will be a decisive factor in signing him to a long-term contract.
He continued: ‘Son Heung-min is a legend of the club and many fans think his decision to extend his contract by one year is not right. However, there are also opinions that he should leave and a replacement should be brought in. Therefore, this claim of a new contract may not be well received. At the end of the day, Son will have to find his best form to get a new contract, and if nothing changes as a result, it seems unlikely that Son will sign a contract.’
Wenham said: “Son’s future depends on his form. If he can get back to his best, he will certainly offer him a new contract. But he’s getting older, and he’s earning £200,000 a week. That’s a huge job for his age. As a result, if his current form continues, he expects it to be his last contract with Tottenham. He hasn’t shown enough this season to sign a new contract.”
Tottenham’s concerns about this situation had already been fully anticipated due to the stalled contract renewal that has been going on since last summer. The starting point was Tottenham’s attitude of renewing his contract. With the expiration of the contract of Son Heung-min, who is already a club legend, he withdrew his plans to renew his contract for a long time and opted for a one-year extension. TBR Football reported at the time that ‘Tottenham have informed Son that they have no plans to renew his contract. Son was shocked by the club’s decision, and Son and his camp had discussed a new contract with Tottenham, and both sides were positive about extending his contract, but it seems that the club suddenly changed their stance.
It was expected that the contract would be renewed as a matter of course. Considering that Son Heung-min is already one of the undisputed ‘living legends’ at Tottenham, it was a natural step. Considering Son Heung-min’s achievements and ratings at Tottenham, he can be considered one of the club’s top 10 legends of all time. Son has played more than 400 games for Tottenham and has scored 170 goals for Tottenham, which is at the top of the all-time list. He is also ranked first in Tottenham’s all-time assists rankings.
However, Tottenham did not take it easy to negotiate a contract renewal. Son Heung-min also hinted that there were no negotiations until this season, when his contract was about to expire. Son Heung-min was asked about renewing his contract at a press conference ahead of the Europa League against Qarabag FK last time out, and he said: “We haven’t said anything yet.”
In general, it is common to try to renew a contract with a player before the contract is about one year away. Even more so when it comes to key players like Son Heung-min. It may be a laid-back attitude as Tottenham’s contract includes a one-year extension option, but it is also true that Son is not treated well. Harry Kane has one year left on his contract and Tottenham have made a number of efforts to keep hold of him, including trying to renew his contract right away. On the other hand, the fact that he didn’t even talk to Son Heung-min is bound to be even more disappointing because it contrasts with Son’s affection.
Tottenham then exercised the option of a one-year extension. Tottenham announced on the club’s official website on the 7th that Son Heung-min’s contract will be extended by one year. Tottenham said: ‘We have exercised the option to extend Son’s contract until 2025. I’m happy to share this fact. The 32-year-old joined Tottenham in August 2015. During his time with us, he grew into an international star. He’s a great player for Tottenham,’ said Son Heung-min on his one-year extension. With the extension option activated, Son Heung-min’s contract, which was originally set to expire in the summer of 2025, will continue until the summer of 2026.
However, since the decision to extend the one-year extension was made by Tottenham on its own, the disappointment is bound to grow. Global sports media ESPN reported the news of Son’s contract renewal, saying, “Son was expected to sign a new long-term contract. However, no negotiations have taken place and Tottenham have simply decided to exercise their options.
Meanwhile, news has emerged that Tottenham still want Son Heung-min to sign a long-term contract. According to The Athletic, ‘There was no question of exercising the option on Son Heung-min. Other clubs are interested in Son Heung-min, but the option means he won’t be signing as a free agent in 2025. The idea of letting Son leave now doesn’t make sense. If Tottenham don’t activate the option, Tottenham would have struggled all summer to fill his void and would have been relegated to a more difficult moment in the future.’
He continued, ‘Tottenham are exploring the possibility of signing Son Heung-min to a long-term contract until the 2026~2027 season or beyond. Given how important Son is to the club, it is unlikely that Tottenham will ever want to let him go. Also, given his fame and appeal, even if he becomes a free agent in 18 months, he will be offered by every league in the world.’ However, even such a contract is likely to change depending on Son Heung-min’s performance.
Doubts about Son’s prowess are growing. In order to put this controversy to rest, Son Heung-min’s performance in the upcoming match against Everton on the 19th will be crucial.