Son Heung-Min Emerges as Top Target for Major MLS Club as Tottenham Captain's Future Sparks Interest
Tottenham Hotspur skipper Son Heung-min appears increasingly set to depart the North London club during the upcoming transfer window, with reports suggesting strong interest from LAFC and wealthy Saudi Arabian teams.
The 33-year-old forward finally secured silverware in May after a ten-year drought, claiming the Europa League trophy following Spurs' 1-0 victory over Manchester United in the showpiece final, though his impact waned during the previous campaign as he managed only seven Premier League strikes—marking the first occasion since 2015-16 that he failed to reach double figures.
Son enters his contract's final 12 months, earning approximately £200,000 weekly, and has been previously connected with Saudi Arabian opportunities. Al Ittihad, featuring stars like Karim Benzema, N'Golo Kanté and Fabinho, pursued the South Korean ace in 2023 without success.
The Athletic revealed just before LAFC Designated Player Denis Bouanga's MLS All-Star appearance in a 3-1 triumph against Liga MX that the California outfit is considering a spectacular MLS acquisition of Son, who may not feature in new Spurs manager Thomas Frank's future plans.
"Currently, I have a player who remains fully dedicated and training excellently, and will feature tomorrow," Frank stated when pressed about Son's situation. "When a player has spent considerable time at a club, there will inevitably be decisions for the organization to make."
LAFC can pursue Son immediately as MLS's secondary transfer period remains active until Wednesday, August 21, though any potential deal will likely await completion of Spurs' profitable pre-season Asian tour covering Hong Kong and South Korea.
The Telegraph reports that Spurs face contractual requirements to field Son against Newcastle United in Seoul's friendly on Sunday, August 3, potentially forfeiting up to 75 percent of their appearance fee should he miss the fixture.
Despite Son approaching his career's latter stages, he could integrate seamlessly into LAFC's rapid, counter-attacking system. While Bouanga clearly leads their frontline, incorporating Son in wider positions would introduce fresh dynamics and attacking versatility.
Son's age shouldn't concern LAFC's incoming head coach for 2026, particularly as current manager Steve Cherundolo has confirmed his departure following this season's conclusion.
Olivier Giroud's exit creates additional opportunities for Son's arrival, and his recruitment would significantly elevate a franchise with substantial South Korean support throughout Los Angeles. LAFC would instantly become MLS Cup favorites, considering their current fifth-place Western Conference position.
Son has represented Spurs 454 times, netting 173 goals while providing 101 assists across all tournaments. He previously formed a lethal attacking combination with Harry Kane, though their exceptional displays went unrewarded as Spurs finished Premier League runners-up in 2016-17 and lost the 2019 Champions League final to Liverpool.