There’s something fitting about Heung-min Son’s decision to leave Tottenham Hotspur this summer, ending this lengthy chapter with a trophy, but it still hurts.
The 33-year-old forward revealed during a pre-season press conference in Seoul, South Korea, that he has “decided to leave the club this summer.”
He joined as a 23-year-old from Bayer Leverkusen in 2015 for a £22m fee, and fought tirelessly and expertly in his forward berth across so many years, crowning his career with victory in the Europa League final, which was Tottenham’s first major honour since lifting the League Cup in 2008.
Son leaves with Tottenham’s blessing, and he leaves as one of the greatest left wingers in Premier League history, having scored 173 goals and supplied 101 assists across 454 games in a Lilywhites shirt.
To enter the Thomas Frank era without him will be a poignant thing, but there’s no denying Son is no longer at his rip-roaring best, and he has earned the chance for a new challenge as he stares at the autumn years of his professional career.
Change is afoot down N17, and this just underlines that point. Frank needs more forwards, and no mistake, but the frontline isn’t the only area in need of a reshuffle.
Spurs planning August shake-up
Tottenham have already signed Mohammed Kudus from West Ham United in a £55m deal this summer, which softens the blow from Son’s departure somewhat.
However, Rodrigo Bentancur and Yves Bissouma are both considered expendable, with the latter attracting interest from a range of clubs.
Those first-teamers surely know they should pursue moves away, for Tottenham have agreed a deal with Bayern Munich for Joao Palhinha, who formerly rose to prominence in England with Fulham.
A defend-first holding midfielder, Palhinha reinforces Frank’s project, but the Danish tactician feels that a more dynamic central partner is needed to complete the set.
Spurs plotting bid for new midfielder
According to Football Insider, Tottenham are plotting a bid for Atletico Madrid midfielder Conor Gallagher, who joined the Spaniards from Chelsea for £33m last summer.
It won’t be easy. Diego Simeone would undoubtedly look to turn a profit on the England international, with a fee in excess of £40m previously mooted.
Tottenham’s “long-term interest” in the 25-year-old is genuine, and it’s uncertain as to whether he would be open to a return to the Premier League, with Aston Villa and Newcastle United also interested.
What Conor Gallagher would bring to Spurs
Gallagher didn’t start every fixture for Atletico Madrid last season, but he made a positive impression in the Spanish capital all the same.
Lauding the England international’s adaptability, last season Simeone said that his new recruit brings “youth, energy and intensity” to the team.
Across 50 appearances, Gallagher scored four goals and provided six assists, finishing the term ranked among the top 13% of midfielders across Europe for goal involvements, the top 12% for goal-creating actions and the top 17% for tackles won per 90, as per FBref.
Goal-creating actions are pieces of play that lead to a goal. These include moments such as a pass, take-on or foul being drawn.
From this, you might conclude that the £150k-per-week talent is something of an offensive maestro. He’s not. Gallagher does offer something going forward, but he’s a robust and rounded midfielder, something his past two Premier League campaigns would attest to.
|
Conor Gallagher: Recent Prem Statistics |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Stats (* per game) |
22/23 |
23/24 |
|
Matches (starts) |
35 (18) |
37 (37) |
|
Goals |
3 |
5 |
|
Assists |
1 |
7 |
|
Pass completion |
85% |
92% |
|
Big chances created |
5 |
11 |
|
Key passes* |
0.6 |
1.4 |
|
Dribbles* |
0.7 (50%) |
1.0 (68%) |
|
Ball recoveries* |
5.1 |
6.3 |
|
Tackles* |
1.3 |
2.3 |
|
Duels (won)* |
3.5 (45%) |
5.7 (50%) |
|
Stats via Sofascore |
||
As you can see, he’s a balanced midfield force. Gallagher’s former Chelsea teammate Moises Caicedo once said that he’s “like a machine”, bringing out the best in his game as a number six.
In this way, Gallagher’s all-encompassing nature would be perfect alongside Palhinha in the Tottenham centre, bringing the perfect blend of physicality, technical quality and security in front of the backline.
Spurs’ defenders got a lot of flak last year, and rightly so, but the engine room was equally culpable of failing to maintain tactical levels, and these midfielders would change that.
Palhinha, after all, recorded the most tackles of any player across the 2022/23 and 2023/24 Premier League terms (148 & 152 respectively), and his focused efforts to protect and recycle possession suggest that Gallagher would be immense alongside him. Caicedo said the same, did he not?
The Bayern midfielder struggled for minutes under Vincent Kompany’s wing last season, but we all know of his tough-tackling quality, having been described as a “defensive monster” by data analyst Marcus Bring for his efforts as a Cottager in London.
The 30-year-old Palhinha, moreover, is experienced and composed. He didn’t make a single error for Fulham across the 2023/24 season, with his confidence in the central areas undoubtedly playing into Bayern’s decision to sign him for a £47m fee.
While Tottenham fans will hope to see Levy push ahead and sign a new forward to temper the blow that Son’s departure, such an iconic figure, will leave, strengthening the midfield pragmatically is the kind of thing that will contribute toward the wider and more stable long-term success of the club.
Ange Postecoglou planted the seeds of an illustrious era in arable soil, and now, Frank has the chance to grow this vision into something incredible.
