Barcelona are reportedly weighing up a shock approach for Tottenham Hotspur captain Son Heung-min, who as things stand will be leaving the club on a free transfer this summer.
The South Korea international has entered the final six months of his existing terms with Tottenham, meaning that foreign clubs can open talks with him over a pre-contract agreement.
Tottenham do possess the option to extend Son's deal by another 12 months until the end of the 2025-26 season, and the Lilywhites have reportedly decided that they will be activating that clause.
However, it is unclear whether the attacker's short-term extension will precede a long-term renewal, meaning that he could still head elsewhere for nothing in 18 months' time.
Even if Tottenham do trigger the 12-month option in his contract, that may very well be just to protect his value and obtain a nominal fee for his sale this summer if both parties mutually decide to part ways.
Son among four free transfers eyed by Barcelona?
© Imago
According to El Nacional - via The Sun - Barcelona have shown a surprise interest in signing Son when his Tottenham deal expires, as the Blaugrana are still prioritising the signings of free agents.
Barca's economic situation is not as dire as it once was, but the club are still running into financial problems, having failed to register Dani Olmo for the second half of the La Liga season on multiple occasions due to going over their salary cap.
Olmo's agent has repeatedly professed his client's desire to represent Barcelona no matter what, but if the Blaugrana simply cannot find a solution and are forced to lose the Spaniard, Son could be a natural replacement.
The former Bayer Leverkusen man is supposedly one of four soon-to-be free agents that Barcelona have on their summer shortlist, a list that includes fellow attacker and Bayern Munich star Leroy Sane.
The Germany international's club-mate and compatriot Joshua Kimmich is also on the Blaugrana wishlist, in addition to Bayer Leverkusen's Jonathan Tah, a move for whom is already said to be agreed.
Can Tottenham afford to lose Son this summer?
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After excelling in his first season as Tottenham captain under Ange Postecoglou last term, Son has been unable to replicate such form this season, but seven goals and six assists from 23 games is hardly an awful return.
The 32-year-old's versatility is still coming in handy with Richarlison struggling to stay fit; he has predominantly played on the left wing this season but has also filled in at centre-forward on a couple of occasions.
Son's recent lack of output can be attributed to fatigue - he was dropped to the bench for the weekend's 2-1 defeat to Newcastle United - but Spurs fans can expect to see him restored to the starting lineup in Wednesday's EFL Cup semi-final first leg with Liverpool.
Tottenham are already set to lose one attacker this summer - Timo Werner is due to return to RB Leipzig after a disappointing loan - while Richarlison's future is also clouded in uncertainty.
Spurs should therefore enter the market for a new wide option or two, but keeping Son at the club for another year would see them retain a Premier League-proven option while giving any arrivals an experienced tutor to learn from, so it is surely a no-brainer.
Ben Knapton
