Tottenham Hotspur are undergoing a period of transition, but this span of change is built atop the success of winning the Europa League with Ange Postecoglou.
The decision was made afterwards to part ways with Big Ange, whose promise kept wasn’t enough to save his position after slumping to a 17th-place Premier League finish.
But change is afoot, with Heung-min Son, 33, now ready to close the door on his iconic journey at the club, announcing that he has played his last in Tottenham white.
Spurs must consider Son replacement
Son, 33, is one of the most important and influential Tottenham stars of modern times. But there’s no question that he’s been on the decline over the past couple of years, less electric and snappy.
The South Korean has informed Daniel Levy on Spurs’ pre-season tour that he wishes to explore a move away this summer, and that wish has been granted, with MLS side LAFC pushing to secure his signature.
While the £55m signing of West Ham United’s Mohammed Kudus has strengthened Frank’s attacking flanks, Tottenham could do with another to replace Son.
Well, given the club’s interest in AC Milan’s Rafael Leao this summer, it appears he could be the perfect man for the job, with previous reports from transfer insider Ben Jacobs suggesting that the Portuguese winger is on the radar.
What Rafael Leao would bring to Spurs
Leao, 26, is one of the most threatening wide forwards in the world, a high-speed runner and a danger from multiple angles. Across 260 appearances with Milan, he has posted 70 goals and supplied 62 assists.
Though he’s somewhat inconsistent in front of goal at times, Leao’s talent is indisputable. In fact, analyst Ben Mattinson has described him as “one of the best left wingers in the world”, so he has the capacity to replace an ageing Son.
The fact that Son is no longer in his heyday makes the transition smoother, of course. The South Korean icon started last term’s Europa League final from the bench, underscoring that point.
But he still scored 28 goals and laid on 24 assists across 82 games in Postecoglou’s system, with the Australian hailing his “world-class” quality.
Leao has endured a tough campaign in Italy, similarly to Son, with I Rossoneri flattering to deceive. However, he still picked up 25 goal contributions across all competitions, finishing the year with certain similarities to Spurs’ soon-to-depart superstar.
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Rafael Leao vs Heung-min Son (past 365 days) |
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|---|---|---|
|
Stats (per 90) |
Leao |
Son |
|
Goals |
0.32 |
0.32 |
|
Assists |
0.26 |
0.32 |
|
Shots taken |
2.37 |
2.46 |
|
Shot-creating actions |
4.13 |
4.89 |
|
Touches (att pen) |
6.15 |
4.70 |
|
Progressive passes |
3.58 |
4.28 |
|
Progressive carries |
4.74 |
5.41 |
|
Successful take-ons |
2.83 |
1.59 |
|
All data via FBref |
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They rank up pretty similarly, over the past year, which perhaps shines a light on how Son is still a high-level player and his sale will sting some.
But Leao’s superior athleticism is clear, and that’s something that Frank would use to an emphatic effect. The Danish boss, don’t forget, has demonstrated with Yoane Wissa and Bryan Mbeumo at Brentford his aptitude for raising the game of dynamic forwards.
With fleet feet and plenty of flair besides, Leao could be the perfect addition to this new Tottenham chapter, providing Frank with an outlet down the left flank for many years to come.
