EXCLUSIVE: Why Son Heung-min Rejected Spurs' New Deal – Uncertain Future Not Tied to Postecoglou’s Dismissal

EXCLUSIVE: Son’s Future Not Tied to Postecoglou’s Exit

Despite growing speculation, Son Heung-min’s refusal to sign a new contract with Tottenham Hotspur had nothing to do with the dismissal of Ange Postecoglou. According to sources close to the player, Son did not oppose the Australian's exit, nor did he tie his future to the manager’s fate.

In fact, Son maintained a strong personal rapport with Postecoglou, who made him club captain and showed faith in him even when he was managing injuries—offering him a starting place in the Europa League final. However, the decision to reject the club’s two-year extension, proposed last December with a wage reduction, came at a time when Postecoglou was still in charge and Spurs were performing well in cup competitions.

While Son never publicly voiced concerns, it is understood that Postecoglou’s rigid tactical approach played a significant role in prompting the forward to consider leaving Tottenham for the first time in a decade.

Tactical Frustrations Under Postecoglou

While Son respected Postecoglou’s leadership and executed his system faithfully, the role assigned to him often diminished his impact. Frequently pushed wide, Son was tasked with creating space for others—particularly full-backs like Destiny Udogie and Djed Spence, or serving as a decoy for Brennan Johnson—rather than operating as a central goal threat.

This limited tactical role did not go unnoticed in Korea. Local media and fans became increasingly critical, not only of Tottenham’s underwhelming results, but of how Son was tactically marginalised under Postecoglou. A significant portion of the Korean fanbase went so far as to hope for Son’s departure, and those sentiments are well known to the player himself.

Though Son valued the personal care Postecoglou showed, particularly around injury management, he remained unconvinced that staying with Spurs under the same tactical regime would allow him to fulfil his ambitions—whether that meant competing in the Champions League or lifting a major trophy. Sources confirm that had Postecoglou remained and Spurs failed to win the Europa League, Son would have likely pushed for a transfer this summer.

Of course, Son Heung-min diligently carried out Postecoglou’s tactical instructions and never publicly expressed dissatisfaction. However, the rigidity of Postecoglou’s system was a key factor that made Son seriously consider leaving Tottenham for the first time in a decade.

Misreading Frank’s Interview

Following Thomas Frank’s appointment as Tottenham’s new manager on June 18, Football.London highlighted that the Dane mentioned several players he’s excited to work with—Dominic Solanke, James Maddison, Rodrigo Bentancur, Lucas Bergvall, Archie Gray, Wilson Odobert, and Destiny Udogie—but not Son Heung-min.

The publication suggested that Son’s omission reflected the uncertainty surrounding his future, with just 12 months left on his contract. However, this interpretation fails to grasp the full context of Frank’s comments.

Frank’s mentions focused primarily on players who had underperformed in 2024–25 and those with developmental potential. Solanke, for instance, was brought in for a significant fee but disappointed in front of goal. Frank addressed that directly:

"When I say talented, it's not only the young players, it's also some of the more experienced players. How can we get the best out of them. Let's say Dominic Solanke, a big fan of him, in terms of his abilities. I'm sure we'll make him score a lot of goals."

He also spoke about tactical combinations with Maddison and Bentancur—both of whom had inconsistent seasons—and highlighted promising young investments like Bergvall, Gray, Odobert, and Udogie:

"How can we play with Bentancur, you know, Maddison, how can we get that, but of course the younger ones as well. I think it's all players that we need to develop and make perform on the highest level. But of course Bergvall, Archie Gray, Odobert, Udogie, all of them, I think have a high ceiling. There's others I haven't mentioned, it's the whole squad and I'm looking forward to it."

Significantly, other key first-team players were also omitted from Frank’s comments—such as Dejan Kulusevski, Pedro Porro, Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero, and Guglielmo Vicario. Among them, Romero has drawn interest from Atlético Madrid but is expected to remain due to Frank’s request and his high valuation. Van de Ven and Porro are considered undroppable, while Vicario’s role as a dressing room leader makes him an influential figure regardless of his uncertain form.

In short, Frank’s omission of Son from his introductory remarks does not indicate an impending transfer and should not be over-interpreted.

Contract Rejection: A Matter of Control

Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano stated on Give Me Sport that Son’s future remains undecided, with a direct meeting with Thomas Frank likely to determine whether he stays. Romano added that had Postecoglou remained, Son probably would have stayed as well—but not out of loyalty to the manager.

Instead, the sentiment from Son’s camp is clear: while Son admired Postecoglou as a person and appreciated his leadership, he did not support his continued tenure at the expense of his own ambitions.

Son’s decision to reject the reduced two-year offer came during a period when Spurs were enjoying relative success under Postecoglou. But even then, he saw limitations in his tactical usage and doubted whether the club could meet his ambitions during the final prime years of his career.

Spurs' Extension Moves: Barcelona’s Interest Behind the Scenes

Tottenham’s decision to activate Son Heung-min’s one-year contract extension in January 2025 was not merely precautionary—it was a direct response to genuine interest from FC Barcelona. As Football-Asian.com understands, the Catalan giants were actively exploring the possibility of signing Son ahead of their scheduled summer tour to South Korea, where they are set to play FC Seoul in Seoul on July 31 and Daegu FC in Daegu on August 4.

Faced with difficulties in signing Luis Díaz and actively seeking to offload Ansu Fati, Barcelona began considering Son as a strategic acquisition. The rationale was clear: he could serve as a backup striker to Robert Lewandowski, operate fluidly across the attacking line, and, crucially, bring immense commercial value in Asia. The club evaluated whether he could be acquired for a modest transfer fee—or even signed on a free transfer in the future.

Spurs, aware of this interest, moved quickly to exercise their extension option, securing Son’s services through 2026 and protecting his market value. A similar approach was taken with Ben Davies. His one-year extension, triggered after the 2024–25 season, was likewise influenced by mounting interest from EFL clubs including Leeds United(Promoted to PL this summer), Swansea City, and Wrexham. Without such interest, Tottenham were expected to offer Davies a new deal on reduced terms rather than retain him on his existing salary.

In both cases, Spurs’ decision-making was shaped not just by squad planning, but also by external demand—particularly in Son’s case, where interest from a global powerhouse like Barcelona added urgency and strategic significance.

What Comes Next: Frank’s System Holds the Key

Sources suggest Son is now waiting for direct talks with Thomas Frank to understand his tactical role. Encouragingly, Frank’s philosophy may align better with Son’s attacking strengths.

"They've clearly shown over the last two seasons that the ability to score goals is fantastic, and I'm very, very in on that. I love a team that is scoring goals, very, very big on principles. What we do on the final third, in terms of creating chances, and putting bowls in the box, playing in behind and stuff like that, I think it's key. So just want to build on that attacking football, we already have here in the club."

Son remains one of the Premier League’s most clinical finishers. Should Frank opt to restore him to a more central role, Son could reclaim his scoring prowess—and with it, a renewed sense of belonging.

MLS or UEFA Champiols League? Son’s Road Beyond 2026

Ultimately, Son Heung-min’s final decision may not arrive until January 2026 – when he becomes eligible to sign a pre-contract under the Bosman ruling. Whether he stays, seeks a cut-price move, or departs as a free agent will depend on two variables: Tottenham’s Champions League trajectory and his tactical relevance under Frank.

While Son has not outright rejected approaches from Saudi clubs such as Al Nassr, Al Qadsiah, and Al Ahli, he remains adamant that he will not leave Europe before captaining South Korea at the 2026 World Cup in North America. If he does depart Europe afterward, his preference is understood to be a move to Major League Soccer on a free transfer. However, should he leave Tottenham as early as January 2026, a move to another European club participating in the Champions League remains the most likely outcome.

Until then, the ball remains in the club’s court – and in Son’s feet.