Player Watch Player Watch: Son Heung-min

[kursaal]

I've got a really good feeling about Sonny tonight. I reckon he'll get a couple tonight.

 

[HildoSpur]

We would be insane to sell Son.

 

[Trix]

We would be insane to sell Son.

I'm very much in the camp of depends how much.

 

[TPdYID]

I'm very much in the camp of depends how much.

>70m - I’m all for dealing.

I think we’ve seen his best days, that’s not to say he’s finished at all. But I don’t see him doing anymore heavy lifting.

70 from Son + 30 from the kitty could give Napoli & Osimhen with something to think about.

 

[Hakkz]

For a serious bid I would have a think about it. When he's not on form, his style of play does not offer much and I think he has been awful this season.

 

[HildoSpur]

I'm very much in the camp of depends how much.

Don't get me wrong if we get offered something ridiculous then it would be worth considering given his age. However I'd be happier to keep him.

 

[hughy]

I'm sure this will rumble on until Summer if his form doesn't pick up, but for me he'd stay for another couple of seasons at least.

Players are allowed poor seasons, it happens. Let's see how he is after the WC, particularly if South Korea face a group-stage exit.

 

[dontcallme]

I do wonder how much he brings in commercially. We appear to be huge in South Korea due to him.

So I don’t think the argument of cashing in before his value decreases is particularly relevant in this case.

Our way to the top is through having quality. He’s a player of real quality. We need to add players with his ability, not lose them.

 

[Japhet]

Probably get pelters for this but, if Sonny wants to go (?) and we could get a hefty price for him, Zaha's deal is about to run out. Pick him up for peanuts (or nothing) and there's a replacement right there with a lump of cash too. I'd prefer to keep Sonny though (who wouldn't?) but the whole Kane saga rocked the boat pretty badly and I still don't think we're over that.

 

[danielneeds]

Probably get pelters for this but, if Sonny wants to go (?) and we could get a hefty price for him, Zaha's deal is about to run out. Pick him up for peanuts (or nothing) and there's a replacement right there with a lump of cash too. I'd prefer to keep Sonny though (who wouldn't?) but the whole Kane saga rocked the boat pretty badly and I still don't think we're over that.

Selling Son and bringing in Zaha for free and a wildcard like Mudryck or Gakpo would make sense to me. Get a proven PL player and hopefully a young player who can explode. I doubt Conte would countenance it unless Son made clear he wanted to leave.

 

[Norgie]

I know he hasn't been great this season but I'm really surprised people are even mentioning selling him, only a few months ago he shared the prem golden boot!

 

[Yiddo100]

I know he hasn't been great this season but I'm really surprised people are even mentioning selling him, only a few months ago he shared the prem golden boot!

23 PL goals last year and people are happy to see him gone for 70+, that’s only 10 more than richarlison cost .

bonkers

 

[Trix]

Don't get me wrong if we get offered something ridiculous then it would be worth considering given his age. However I'd be happier to keep him.

It's not just about his age. He's a brilliant talent going forward, but he's the opposite when we don't have the ball, and always has been. I wouldn't go as far as saying he was a luxury player because he does his job positionally, but his defensive game is severely lacking even for a forward. It would cost a fair bit for me to consider it, but consider it I would.

 

[dontcallme]

Probably get pelters for this but, if Sonny wants to go (?) and we could get a hefty price for him, Zaha's deal is about to run out. Pick him up for peanuts (or nothing) and there's a replacement right there with a lump of cash too. I'd prefer to keep Sonny though (who wouldn't?) but the whole Kane saga rocked the boat pretty badly and I still don't think we're over that.

Him wanting to go is the key. There's no way we should be looking at cashing in if he wants to stay.

Zaha is only a year younger than Son and I feel he'd be a step down. But it's a good example of how difficult it will be replacing Son.

 

[13VanDerBale13]

I know he hasn't been great this season but I'm really surprised people are even mentioning selling him, only a few months ago he shared the prem golden boot!

People have very short memories, wasn't long ago the same was being said about cashing in on Kane ...

 

[dontcallme]

People have very short memories, wasn't long ago the same was being said about cashing in on Kane ...

But again, I believe that was on the basis of Kane actually wanting to leave.

The context of why people entertain the idea of selling top players is very important.

 

[13VanDerBale13]

But again, I believe that was on the basis of Kane actually wanting to leave.

The context of why people entertain the idea of selling top players is very important.

I highly doubt Son wants to leave so soon after signing a new contract (when NUNO was in charge) & Paul O'Keefe has pretty much rubbished the report. Even if a big offer came in I wouldn't sell.

What we should be doing, is adding more attacking quality like Richarlison & Kulu, which will bolster our options, instead of selling a key asset.

 

[cusop]

But again, I believe that was on the basis of Kane actually wanting to leave.

The context of why people entertain the idea of selling top players is very important.

As these two great players age, reality is that a time will come when they will not perform at this level and change will be required I cannot see that happening this season or next

 

[dontcallme]

I highly doubt Son wants to leave so soon after signing a new contract (when NUNO was in charge) & Paul O'Keefe has pretty much rubbished the report. Even if a big offer came in I wouldn't sell.

What we should be doing, is adding more attacking quality like Richarlison & Kulu, which will bolster our options, instead of selling a key asset.

I believe the talk of Son wanting to leave was in response to the link below. I completely agree that we shouldn't be selling Son but need to be adding to his quality.

Now idk if this is true, and I want to be the first to say I hope it isn’t, but I do think it should be time to consider a replacement. Will be 31 to start next season and is really reliant on his athleticism. With the way he takes care of himself, I don’t doubt he could maintain his level for another 3-4 seasons, and we won’t find anyone in the world who can finish like he does, but at some point, if the team and the individual doesn’t show improvement over the course of the season, I’d be having serious conversations. Leão, Kvaratskhelia, Gakpo, Terrier, Chiesa, and others I like as replacements. Again, I definitely want to see what he and the team achieve at the end of the season and how he’s contributed, so again, I hope this isn’t true. And tbh Son as a person is irreplaceable and I don’t know how that aspect would affect the club. Conte is also a huge factor here and what his future here looks like. And if the club doesn’t care about his value decreasing with age, then keep your world class players obviously. But I could feel different in May and if the trend continues, I certainly will. Not to take away from his loyalty and legendary status of course.

I doubt the story is true.

 

[Freddie]

Put the FIFA down mate and come back to reality. The entire top 5 of the Ballon Dor are over 30.

Benzema, Mane, Lewandowski, KDB, Salah.

The over 30 rule was thrown out the window 20 years ago. These guys are fitter at 30 than you or I were at 10.

After 30 is when players get the biggest contracts, have the smallest sell-on value and can decline rapidly. Those players you listed are exceptional cases. 20 years ago it was believed players enter their peak at around 27 but many have long-since peaked by that age in modern football so I don't agree with your assertion.

Son is an interesting case. He seems happy here, everyone loves him, he's probably a commercial behemoth and he looks like he'll stay in great shape. However his pace will start to go soon and without it does he have enough about his game to still be a great player? I doubt it. In fact unlike the other world class players you listed he's someone who has long periods of poor form/being quite anonymous. Maybe it's worth sacrificing another year or two of his goals to get in the next Son. There's always a trade-off and I'd be open to starting the process of rejuvenating our attack.