Exclusive: Thomas Frank has confirmed to Tottenham he is willing to sell £22m star he once called ‘fantastic’
Tottenham Hotspur stand on the brink of a significant changing of the guard as new manager Thomas Frank prepares to part ways with club captain Son Heung-min this summer.
Sources confirm the Danish tactician has reached the difficult decision to allow the South Korean icon to depart should suitable offers materialize, marking the potential end of a glorious nine-year chapter in North London.
The 32-year-old forward, who arrived from Bayer Leverkusen for £22 million in 2015, finds himself at a career crossroads following Tottenham’s Europa League triumph – the club’s first major trophy in 17 years.
While Son could theoretically remain at Spurs, Frank has made it clear the veteran attacker would likely assume a reduced role primarily from the bench, prompting both parties to consider a dignified separation while the captain’s stock remains high.
The Inevitability of Transition
Son’s impending departure reflects the harsh realities of elite football’s relentless progression. Despite his legendary status and continued commercial value to the club – Daniel Levy reportedly values him at £50 million largely due to his marketability – the numbers tell a story of inevitable decline.
Last season’s performances showed glimpses of the explosive forward who shared the 2021-22 Premier League Golden Boot, but the explosive acceleration and ruthless finishing that defined his peak years have noticeably diminished.
Frank’s public admiration for Son’s qualities during his Brentford tenure (“fantastic player” in August 2023) contrasts with his current pragmatic stance, underscoring how quickly priorities shift in modern management.
The Dane inherits a squad requiring rejuvenation, and while sentimentality has its place, Tottenham’s hierarchy recognize the need to rebuild around younger assets like the newly-permanent Mathys Tel.
Succession Planning Underway
Tottenham’s recruitment team have already begun identifying potential successors, though the process presents challenges. Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo remains of interest, but his £60 million price tag gives Levy pause.
Alternatives include Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze and Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo, though neither represents a direct replacement for Son’s unique skill set.
The South Korean’s departure would create a void beyond just goals and assists. His leadership in the dressing room and connection with supporters represent intangible qualities that won’t be easily replicated.
Frank must consider not just who can fill the left-wing position, but who can help maintain the cultural standards Son embodied during his captaincy.
Should this prove Son’s final act in lilywhite, few could argue he deserves anything less than a hero’s sendoff. His legacy extends beyond statistics – though 157 goals and 83 assists in 405 appearances tell their own story – to moments that etched his name into club folklore.
That dramatic winner against Manchester City in the Champions League quarterfinals, his four-goal demolition of Southampton, and now captaining Spurs to European glory – these are memories no transfer fee can diminish.
The coming weeks will determine whether Saudi Arabia’s long-standing interest materializes into a concrete offer that satisfies all parties. For Tottenham, the challenge lies in balancing respect for a club legend with the cold-eyed pragmatism required to progress.
Son’s potential exit symbolizes both an ending and a beginning – the closing of one of Spurs’ most successful modern eras, and the opening of Thomas Frank’s opportunity to reshape the squad in his image.
As Son and Frank prepare for their decisive meeting, a mutual understanding appears to have emerged: the time has come for new adventures.
For Tottenham, that means building around the next generation. For Son, it likely represents one final lucrative challenge while his body can still withstand the demands of elite football.
However this story concludes, Son Heung-min’s place in Tottenham history remains unassailable – a player whose brilliance illuminated White Hart Lane and whose professionalism set standards that will endure long after his departure.