The pending departure of Heung-min Son to LAFC is one that will leave a huge hole in the final third for Tottenham Hotspur, with the South Korean one of the best attackers in the club’s history.
He’s racked up over 450 appearances during his decade at the Lilywhites, scoring 173 times, with 11 of which coming during the 2024/25 campaign, helping the club end their 17-year wait for a trophy.
There’s no denying that at 33, it’s the right time for a move, but such a departure will leave Thomas Frank and the hierarchy with a huge task to replace his constant attacking threat.
Further additions will need to be made between now and the end of the transfer window to ensure the new boss has all the options he needs at his disposal to be competitive in the Premier League.
Daniel Levy has already commenced work to potentially make top-level additions, especially if the latest updates coming out of North London come to fruition.
The latest on Spurs’ hunt for new attackers this summer
Over recent days, Leicester City star Bilal El Khannouss has emerged as a potential option for Spurs this summer, with his £22m relegation release clause becoming active.
It was confirmed that the Lilywhites hierarchy are preparing an official approach to land the Moroccan, who registered six combined goals and assists last campaign.
However, he’s not the only forward-thinking player currently in their sights, with Real Madrid star Rodrygo another player they’re chasing, according to Spanish outlet Cadena SER.
They claim that Frank’s side have prepared a €60m (£52m) bid to land the Brazilian forward this summer, potentially being the perfect replacement for the outgoing Son.
It also states that the 24-year-old is hoping for a Premier League move during the current window, after being told he’s free to depart the LaLiga giants ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.
Why Spurs’ £52m target would be Frank’s answer to Mbappé
Kylian Mbappé has cemented himself as one of Europe’s leading talismen over the last couple of years – undoubtedly being a player every fan wishes played for their side.
The Frenchman burst onto the scene as a baby-faced teenager at Monaco back in 2017, before a huge move to PSG that secured his place as one of Europe’s elite.
He registered a staggering 256 goals in his 308 outings for the Parisians over an eight-year period, breaking the record for the most goals scored by a player in the club’s history.
However, he would depart the Ligue 1 side on a free transfer last summer, joining European giants Real Madrid – a move which has seen him continue his excellent talents in front of goal.
The 26-year-old found the net 44 times in his 59 outings across all competitions throughout 2024/25, having a debut campaign to remember at the Santiago Bernabéu.
A player of his calibre would cost a pretty penny in today’s market, but Spurs could be about to land a player of his level – that’s if they complete a deal for Rodrygo this summer.
The Brazilian has been labelled as a similar player to Mbappé by FBref, managing to outperform his teammate in numerous key areas during the most recent season in LaLiga.
Rodrygo, who’s been labelled “world-class” by analyst Ben Mattinson, registered more progressive passes and carries per 90, handing Frank the attacking threat he craves upon Son’s departure.
He also managed to complete more key passes and more passes into the final third per 90, able to allow fellow new addition Mohammed Kudus to also hit the ground running in North London.
Games played
30
34
Goals & assists
11
34
Progressive carries
5.3
4.6
Goals per shot on target
0.3
0.3
Pass accuracy
86%
82%
Key passes made
2.5
1.3
Passes into final third
3.1
2.3
Carries into final third
4.1
2.9
Crosses completed
3.8
1.1
Progressive passes
5.1
4.3
Rodrygo’s dominance over his teammate is further reflected in his higher pass completion rate, whilst completing more crosses per 90, showcasing his impeccable nouse for creating chances in attacking areas.
He certainly won’t be a cheap addition for Spurs this summer, but the Brazilian has showcased that he has the ability to provide a real threat for the club within the final third.
If he can transfer such a skill-set over to England ahead of 2025/26, he could become the club’s main man in their ambitions of being successful in the Premier League in the near future.
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