Spurs could sign a dream Son replacement with “Ballon d’Or potential” for just £25m

Tottenham Hotspur’s emphatic victory over Southampton on Sunday evening has lifted the spirits around the club, providing a welcome reprieve after a challenging stretch.

The 5-0 win was a near-flawless performance, with Ange Postecoglou’s side dominating in every aspect. Scoring five goals and conceding none, Tottenham showed their class and composure, coasting through the second half without exerting significant effort.

Key players such as James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, and Pape Matar Sarr returned to their best form, while club captain Son Heung-min delivered a performance that reminded fans of his prime years.

Despite Son’s brilliance, it’s clear that Tottenham must start planning for the future, particularly in finding a successor for the 32-year-old forward. While Son remains a vital player, his advancing age and physical demands make it unrealistic to rely on him for consistent performances week after week.

Encouragingly, Tottenham may have already identified a potential replacement in Lyon’s Rayan Cherki, a player who has drawn comparisons to Chelsea’s rising star Cole Palmer.

Over the past nine years, few players have had the impact on English football that Son has achieved. The South Korean international is a Tottenham legend and a bona fide Premier League great.

With 125 goals and 68 assists in just 316 league appearances, Son has averaged a goal involvement every 1.63 games, an extraordinary feat. His contributions have made him one of the most influential players in the club’s history. However, as time catches up with every athlete, even someone as gifted as Son cannot maintain peak performance indefinitely.

Research indicates that wide players often hit their peak around the age of 26, meaning Son has already surpassed the typical prime years for his position. While he can still deliver moments of brilliance, his ability to dominate games consistently has naturally diminished.

This season has seen him fade out of matches more frequently, underscoring the need for Tottenham to develop a long-term plan for life after their talismanic forward. Postecoglou, tasked with building a squad capable of competing for titles in the coming years, must address this crucial challenge.

Reports suggest Tottenham may have already set their sights on Cherki, a 21-year-old attacking midfielder and winger from Lyon. Cherki’s name emerged in connection with Tottenham through a report from GIVEMESPORT, highlighting the Frenchman as one of the players under consideration.

Financial difficulties at Lyon could make Cherki available for as little as £25 million, a potentially shrewd investment for a player of his talent and potential.

A significant part of Cherki’s appeal lies in his statistical similarities to Palmer, as identified by FBref. This platform analyzes players across Europe’s top leagues and continental competitions, generating comparisons based on key metrics.

In Cherki’s case, Palmer ranks as one of the most similar players in terms of style and performance. Both players excel in areas such as non-penalty goals and assists, progressive carries, shots on target, goal-creating actions, and passing accuracy, providing a clear basis for the comparison.

Cherki’s numbers this season underscore his potential to become a star. In 17 appearances, the young Frenchman has recorded five goals and seven assists, delivering a goal involvement every 1.41 games. These figures highlight his ability to contribute consistently, both as a creator and a scorer. Respected analyst Ben Mattinson has even described Cherki as having “Ballon d’Or potential,” a testament to the high regard in which he is held.

Comparing Cherki and Palmer further illustrates the former’s credentials. Cherki boasts impressive statistics, including a higher passing accuracy (76.7% compared to Palmer’s 74.5%) and more goal-creating actions per 90 minutes.

His progressive carries, shots on target, and overall influence in the attacking third make him a standout prospect. While Palmer’s recent rise at Chelsea has been notable, Cherki’s numbers suggest he could follow a similar trajectory, making him an ideal candidate to succeed Son at Tottenham.

Replacing Son’s extraordinary output will be no small task for Tottenham. Over the years, his contributions have been nothing short of spectacular, and finding a player capable of filling his shoes is critical to the club’s future success.

Cherki represents an exciting option, combining raw talent with a proven ability to impact games. Although signing him would involve an element of risk, his potential to develop into a world-class player makes the gamble worthwhile.

In the ever-evolving world of football, long-term planning is essential for sustained success. Tottenham must act decisively to secure players who align with their vision for the future. Cherki, with his skill, versatility, and potential, appears to tick all the right boxes. If Tottenham can bring him to North London, they may find themselves with a worthy successor to one of their greatest-ever players.