Tottenham Hotspur confident Heung-Min Son will sign new contract once manager appointed

By Kyle Archer

Tottenham Hotspur are confident that Heung-Min Son will sign a new contract once a manager is appointed, claims Fabrizio Romano.

Spurs are still in talks with the South Korea international’s agent over new terms in north London. The agreement should be finalised once Daniel Levy unveils Jose Mourinho’s permanent replacement.

Levy is speaking with Antonio Conte over taking up the vacant hot seat (Guardian) after the Italian left Inter Milan. The former Chelsea boss walked away after winning the Serie A title over a disagreement over his transfer budget.

Inter must raise close to €100million (£86m) through summer sales and have asked players to accept 15-20% wage cuts. Conte, though, wanted backing in the transfer market to build on last season’s success.

Conte is now the leading candidate to join Tottenham and end Chairman Levy’s extensive search. Hiring the 51-year-old could also see discussions with Son come to a positive conclusion after months of negotiations.

Son was set to agree new terms back in November (The Athletic) to end speculation over his future. But is yet to put his signature to a deal that would make the 28-year-old one of Spurs’ top earners.

The forward currently earns £140,000-per-week but his contract only has two years to run. Tottenham wanted to award Son improved terms as a reward for his excellent form over the 2018/19 and 2020/21 seasons.

TBR’s view: Tottenham must secure Son

Son continued to shine at Tottenham last term, netting 17 goals and penning 10 assists in 37 Premier League games. Only Harry Kane (23), Mohamed Salah (22) and Bruno Fernandes (18) scored more, while the forward ranked seventh for assists.

Spurs must now do whatever it takes to secure Son’s long-term future to protect the club from him wanting out. Levy already has a tough enough challenge convincing Kane to stay with the striker set on leaving (The Times).

Whoever replaces Mourinho at the helm would be loath to accept the job if both Son and Kane are potentially on their way out. Like Kane, Son would not be short of suitors, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer a clear fan having described him as a ‘revelation’ to MUFC TV in April.

But finding the right coach could be what keeps both in north London, with the managerial situation key to Son putting pen to paper.