Speculation Surrounds Potential Transfer of Son Heung-min to Al-Ittihad: Contract Renewal Talks with Tottenham in Progress

Chosun Sports = Reporter Han Dong-hoon

Yonhap AP News

I made it clear I wasn’t going, but why am I still doing this?

EPAYonhap news

Another report has emerged that a club from Saudi Arabia is targeting Tottenham captain Son Heung-min. Son Heung-min had already dismissed rumors of a transfer to Saudi Arabia last summer. Contract renewal talks with Tottenham are said to be progressing smoothly. But Saudi Arabia has not given up yet.

EPAYonhap news

The sports media ‘Football Transfer’ reported on the 22nd (Korea time) that ‘Al-Etihad raided Liverpool and Tottenham to capture Mohamed Salah and Son Heung-min.’

Reuters Yonhap News

Football Transfer said, ‘Alitihad are keen to recruit Son Heung-min in the upcoming summer transfer market. Al-Ittihad will target Salah and Son Heung-min to bolster their attack. This is to replace aging Brazilian forward Romarinho. ‘There is a high possibility that Karim Benzema will leave the team,’ he explained.

Son Heung-min also rejected an annual salary of 42 billion earned for the summer of 2023. In June last year, ESPN reported, ‘Alitihad is ready to sign Tottenham striker Son Heung-min for 60 million euros (about 84 billion after’ to win) plus bonuses. Sources reported that (Al-Itihad) offered Son Heung-min a four-year contract with an annual salary of 30 million euros (about 42 billion won). It is currently known that Son Heung-min’s annual salary is less than 20 billion won.

At the time, Son Heung-min said, “I like the Premier League, and I believe there is still a lot of work left to be done in the Premier League. Money is not important to me. For me, being able to feel pride in football and playing in the league I like is the most important thing.” he said.

Son Heung-min’s contract with Tottenham runs until the 2024-2025 season. After this season, Son Heung-min will enter the final year of his contract. The future of a star player is usually decided a year before the contract expires. Before being released as a free agent, the contract is extended or sold for a transfer fee.

Tottenham have been said to have been in positive communication with Son Heung-min about renewing his contract since the end of last year. The British media ‘Give Me Sports’ reported last December that ‘Tottenham Hotspur will have no problems signing a new contract with Son Heung-min.’

According to Give Me Sports, Paul Brown, a journalist familiar with Tottenham’s situation, said, “Son Heung-min became a key player even after Harry Kane left. Both Son Heung-min and Sarr are happy at Tottenham. I don’t think there are any problems in stopping a long-term contract.” He said, “It’s only a matter of time before the contract is renewed.”

But Al-Ittihad remains optimistic. Football Transfer said, ‘Son Heung-min is a central figure at Tottenham. Last summer, he expressed his desire to stay at the club. But recently the situation has changed. He speculated, “If Tottenham fail to advance to the Champions League, Son Heung-min may re-evaluate his future.”

Football Transfer said, ‘Al-Ittihad’s ambition is to bring in two Premier League stars Son Heung-min and Salah. “We are trying to build a strong front line with Abderrazak Hamdallah, who scored 13 goals in 16 games this season.”

Reporter Han Dong-hoon dhhan@sportschosun.com

#SON #billion #won #part #believed #Saudi #Arabia #Tottenham #fail #Champions #League #change #mind