Son Heung-Min has been an integral presence at White Hart Lane since his move to North London from Bayer Leverkusen, and the South Korean has become an icon at Tottenham Hotspur and a modern-day legend in the English top tier given his consistent performances coming in from the left wing. However, his future with the Lilywhites has come under massive scrutiny in the ongoing campaign given how he has struggled to replicate his previous performances that brought him plaudits, and with his age on the wrong side, there have been speculations that Daniel Levy might end up getting rid of the former Leverkusen ace after the conclusion of the ongoing season.

To put his impact at N17 into perspective, Son has scored 172 goals and has a tally of 92 assists in 441 appearances since moving to Spurs in 2015.

New contract comes without certainty

The 32-year-old did extend his stay at N17 earlier this season when the club decided to activate a one-year extension option on his contract; however, that didn’t stop further rumours suggesting that the club did it to protect the 32-year-old’s value given his links with the Saudi Pro League.

And the club has been advised that they should be looking to keep a player of Son’s ability at White Hart Lane, with former North Londoners goalkeeper Paul Robinson speaking in a recent episode of the Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, speaking on the rumours about the 32-year-old’s exit.

Tottenham have a successor, but what does that mean…

While many are ridiculing the performances of the 32-year-old, he is still one of the shining lights in a struggling season at Hotspur Way with 10 goals and providing eight assists in 33 appearances across all competitions.

There also have been suggestions of how Tottenham has found a long-term successor to Son in 19-year-old winter arrival Mathys Tel, and while the Frenchman has started to make his presence felt at N17, Robinson believes that Son still has a lot to give to the badge.

He said:

“Sonny’s 32 now, and his form this season has been indifferent.

“The relationship that he’s got, the affiliation that he’s got with the club, I find it difficult to criticise the form at the moment.

“The team are not playing well, which is very difficult to play well when you’re playing in a team that’s struggling.

“He’s going to leave a huge hole.

“Everyone’s got a lifespan, everyone has their longevity, whenever that may be, he looks extremely fit, he looks extremely sharp.

“He may be lacking a little bit of confidence this season, I mean, you saw the game against Aston Villa last week in the FA Cup.

“He had a real good opportunity and he passed the ball at times when he shouldn’t have passed the ball, the opportunity to get the goal when it was, you know, when they were one down. I don’t see what a move away from Tottenham does good for anybody. For him, for the club, there’s no financial reward for the club.

“Further down the line, there’s got to be other players that are brought in. But at the moment, is he better than Timo Werner? Yeah, absolutely he is.

“You need to keep a player like Sonny around. Let him go on a free when his contract’s up.

“At the moment, you’re not going to get a lot of value from him.

Should Tottenham let go of Son or keep him?

While it’s true that Son’s form has been inconsistent this season, some of that can be attributed to Tottenham’s overall struggles rather than a decline in his ability. He still possesses the technical quality, work ethic, and leadership that make him one of the club’s most important players. His decision-making in recent matches, like against Aston Villa in the FA Cup. could indicate a lack of confidence, but that doesn’t mean he’s no longer capable of performing at a high level.

Ultimately, keeping Son until his contract runs out seems like the best option for Spurs unless a major offer arrives. His leadership and experience will be crucial in the coming seasons, especially as the club undergoes further changes under Ange Postecoglou. If Spurs want to compete at the highest level, players like Son are still vital, even if their form dips temporarily.

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Son, who was once the embodiment of energy and attacking prowess at White Hart Lane, has looked dim of late, especially given his highly acclaimed reputation. There has also been a drop in his intensity and work rate, which raises important questions: Is it fatigue? A tactical mismatch? Or is there something deeper within the squad’s mentality?