Tottenham Hotspur legend Heung-min Son has announced his departure, with the club icon set to join Major League Soccer’s Los Angeles FC.
After an illustrious decade-long chapter in North London, the 33-year-old forward has moved on after finally helping Spurs end their 17-year trophy drought by captaining the club to Europa League glory.
Son still had one year left on his contract. But after finally getting his hands on a major trophy, he wanted to leave the club on a high.
The South Korean international leaves Tottenham as the club’s fifth all-time top scorer and their most prolific non-English player. He leaves the club as a true modern-day legend.
Head coach Thomas Frank already has young talents like Mathys Tel and Wilson Odobert in the squad, while highly rated teenager Mikey Moore has joined Rangers on loan.
But his current options will struggle to replace Son. Tottenham now have to decide if they’ll stick with the current options or invest in a top-class left winger to carry the torch.
Tottenham have been linked with Real Madrid forward Rodrygo. He’d be a dream signing, but he’s unlikely to trade Santiago Bernabeu for North London this summer.
Son is irreplaceable, but if Tottenham are on the market for a successor, then a few options should be considered.
Antonio Nusa – RB Leipzig
Tottenham once struck gold by signing a young Son from the Bundesliga, and history could repeat itself.
Antonio Nusa caught the eye in his debut season at RB Leipzig, notching five goals and seven assists across all competitions last term. He has also matched those numbers in just 15 games for Norway.
The 20-year-old has been impressive for both club and country since bursting onto the scene with Club Brugge and has averaged just over five take-ons per game over the past 12 months.
He’s an exciting prospect that should be on Tottenham’s radar, but with Xavi Simons and Benjamin Sesko potentially heading to Chelsea and Manchester United, Leipzig may be reluctant to let him leave.
Alejandro Garnacho – Manchester United
Tottenham could turn to Alejandro Garnacho as a youthful replacement for Son, with the Argentine international keen to leave United this summer.
The 21-year-old has fallen out with head coach Ruben Amorim, and a summer exit is on the cards if United receive a decent proposal.
The winger’s relationship with Amorim reportedly hit the buffers after he was benched for most of the Europa League final defeat to Spurs.
Despite the tension, Garnacho impressed last season, bagging 11 goals and 10 assists in 58 games across all competitions. He also ranked among Europe’s top wingers for progressive carries.
Garnacho could be available for around £40 million, although Spurs will have to battle Chelsea for his signature.
Ademola Lookman – Atalanta
Ademola Lookman’s time in English football was once best remembered for a disastrous Panenka penalty miss for Fulham in 2020.
But the Nigerian international has turned his career around in stunning fashion at Atalanta, scoring 52 goals and weighing in with 25 assists in 118 games across three seasons.
He also scored a sublime hat-trick in the 2023/24 Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen.
Lookman wants to leave Atalanta this summer, and Tottenham need to take advantage. Inter Milan are considered front-runners to land his signature, but a potential return to London could turn his head.