Transfer Centre

Tottenham 'set to trigger' contract extension for key 31-year-old

By Carter White | 01 July 2024

Retaining the core: Tottenham 'set to trigger' key contract extension

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly preparing to trigger the one-year extension in Son Heung-min's contract, committing his future at the club until at least 2026.

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly expected to trigger the option to extend Son Heung-min's contract by a further 12 months.

Following the departure of all-time top goalscorer Harry Kane to German giants Bayern Munich last summer, the 31-year-old South Korean has stepped up the mantle as leading marksman for the Lilywhites.

Son found the net on 17 occasions and provided 10 assists across 35 Premier League matches during the 2023-24 campaign, finishing as Spurs' top scorer in the league.

Consistency personified, the 129-time international has featured in 405 matches across all competitions for the Lilywhites since securing a switch from Bayer Leverkusen nine years ago.

Despite firing in 162 goals during that time, Son has been unable to guide Spurs towards a major honour, leaving him with only Audi Cup and International Champions Cup titles to brag about to date.

Tottenham Hotspur's Son Heung-min celebrates scoring on March 29, 2024 © Reuters

Tottenham 'set to trigger' Son extension

According to Football Insider, Tottenham are preparing to secure the short-term future of Son ahead of the 2024-25 season - Ange Postecoglou's second in charge of the club.

The report claims that the Lilywhites are expected to trigger the option in the Son's deal, extending his terms in North London until the summer of 2026.

With his current agreement expiring at the conclusion of next campaign, Son would be able to depart Spurs on a free transfer should his contract remain untouched.

However, that is increasingly unlikely to be the case, as Tottenham still view the 31-year-old as a major part of their first-team plans moving forward.

It is also said that Spurs chairman Daniel Levy is willing to increase Son's wages at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as a reward for his undeniable contribution to the side over the past nine years.

Tottenham Hotspur's Pedro Porro, Destiny Udogie, Cristian Romero, Ben Davies and Guglielmo Vicario on December 15, 2023 © Reuters

Moulded in Postecoglou's image

During Postecoglou's first season at the helm, Tottenham flew out the traps, navigating their opening 10 league fixtures without defeat to sit top of the standings.

Injuries to key players - namely Micky van de Ven and James Maddison - quickly derailed any ambitions of fighting for the Premier League title.

After all 38 matches had been played, Tottenham sat fifth in the English top flight, enough to secure them a place in next season's Europa League.

As explained by Postecoglou, Spurs need major arrivals in order to compete on both domestic and continental fronts successfully in 2024-25, however retaining the services of star men, such as Son, will also be central to the Australian's summer plans.