Saudi Arabian side Al Ittihad are set to face defeat in their pursuit of Tottenham winger Son Heung-min, as they were expected to make an opening offer of €60 million for the South Korean star.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Tottenham are unwilling to listen to offers for Son Heung-min, who has finally broken his silence after being tipped with a move to the Saudi Pro League.
News of Son potentially heading to Saudi Arabia first broke a fortnight ago when reports came out that the South Korean was a transfer target for 2024. However, ESPN dropped a bombshell recently, reporting a move for the 30-year-old is in the process of being accelerated, with Al Ittihad hoping to land Son a year early, as the Gulf state continues its drive to become a global footballing force to be reckoned with.
With Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, and soon enough the likes of N’Golo Kante and Ruben Neves plying their trade in the Saudi Pro League, Son has become the latest big-name player to be linked with a lucrative move.
The reigning Saudi Pro League champions Al-Ittihad, who recently recruited Benzema and have agreed a deal with Kante, were said to be ‘ready to move’ for the potent Spurs forward. To tempt the player away from north London, a huge contract worth €30 million per season is apparently in the works. That works out at an astonishing £500,000 a week—more than double what he currently earns in north London.
FULL quote from Son on Saudi rumor (with addition)
“I have many things to do in PL. Money doesn’t matter to me now, and the pride of playing football, to play in my favorite league is important. I want to play more for Tottenham in PL, I’ll prepare well when I’m back to Spurs.” pic.twitter.com/GDcnYlmqXf
— Sungmo Lee (@Sungmo_Lee) June 20, 2023
Tottenham would also be handsomely compensated in the sale, with ESPN reporting that a proposal in the region of €60 million was being readied.
Potentially receiving that sum for Son would be a great deal for Spurs, given the fact he will turn 31 years old in July. Indeed, only a few European clubs would pay this amount for a player of Son’s age, even though he is a world-class forward.
He has also endured his worst goalscoring season for Tottenham since his debut campaign at the club in 2015/16. Regardless, Son remains a firm fan favourite and vital to Spurs’ plans to get into the Champions League next season.
Hopes are high that the more attack-minded boss, Ange Postecoglou, can revitalise the South Korean’s confidence. Tottenham have no interest whatsoever in losing such a key player. Now, according to Son himself, he wants to stay in the Premier League and isn’t keen on a big payday at the moment, something that will come as a sigh of relief to Tottenham fans.
Although the player’s contract expires in the summer of 2025, Spurs may be tempted to accept such a deal next year if they are still unable to secure Champions League football.
