GOAL US writers discuss significance of the Korean national team captain leaving Tottenham and reported interested in MLS
In a league that has welcomed David Beckham, Lionel Messi, Thierry Henry and many, many more, MLS seems on the verge of adding nother massive name. Tottenham Hotspur captain Son Heung-min has confirmed he's leaving the club this summer, with a move to MLS appearing imminent.
Los Angeles FC are reportedly finalizing the blockbuster transfer of the South Korea superstar, with the two parties having agreed upon all details, including personal terms. LAFC are reportedly set to pay a transfer fee between $20-$26 million for the forward's services.
Son is more than just an aging guy whose days in top European football are numbered. For one, he's still got quite a bit left in the tank. And perhaps more importantly, he has the kind of broad appeal that MLS needs. He's a nice guy, who does nice things, plays nice football, and just seems, well, nice.
He would undoubtedly pull in viewers given his popularity as captain of the Korean national team, especially given the fact that nearly 30 percent of the nation’s Korean population of 1.8 million live in California.
And then there's the fit, too. Son is a terrific attacking player, capable of playing on either wing or through the middle. On his day, he was elite. But that isn't a guarantee of success, of course. There are unknowns, variables, systems and matchups. This all looks very good on paper, but will it turn out to be?
GOAL US writers look at next move for Son in the latest edition of… The Rondo.
AFPWould Son be a good fit for LAFC?
Tom Hindle: Is the sky blue? It's hard to imagine a better one. LAFC looked a bit of a mess with Olivier Giroud at the center of things, trying to play fast with a geriatric fella up top. How about someone who's rapid and loves to scamper into space? Would Denis Bouanga stick around to fill out what could be a spicy duo? TBD. But either way, he could be the razor sharp edge to a lightning quick team. Fairly sure LAFC will be happy with the kit sales that come, too.
Ryan Tolmich: On and off the field, this could all be right. Between the lines, Son can obviously still go, even if he isn't quite as quick as he used to be. He would be one of the best players in MLS immediately and, with Bouanga on the other side, LAFC could give teams nightmares. Off the field, the club would move a lot of jerseys and sell a lot of tickets, particularly to the Korean fans in Southern California. One thing about Son is that he's as much a brand as he is a player, much like Messi in some ways, and LAFC could capitalize on both sides of that.
Alex Labidou: Son would be a good fit on some European sides, so the answer is an obvious yes. He's a season removed from a 17-goal season from the wing in the Premier League, so imagine what he could do in MLS? The only concern might be coaching. Steve Cherundolo is a proven manager, but if there's one area in which has yet to prove himself, it's with aging outfield stars from European leagues. Yes, he won MLS Cup with Gareth Bale and Giorgio Chiellini, but both were reduced to auxiliary options rather than focal points. And Giroud was an absolute disaster. Sure, some of this falls on the player, but one can imagine if Lille can find a use for the French legend, Cherundolo could have tweaked things to better get use for him.
Jacob Schneider: He would fit really well. Just curious whether that’s on the left or in a central role. With Bouanga in the mix, it would be interesting to see how they combine. Regardless, it would be a fantastic acquisition.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesWould LAFC become contenders with Son?
TH: Well, they certainly get a lot better. LAFC has improved significantly after a slow start, and although they are still worryingly thin defensively, there's something to be said for just outscoring your opponent. There would need to be some tweaking in terms of who plays where – especially if Bouanga sticks around. Son might have to play on the right or through the middle. But there's enough quality here, and 10 points off the top of the West, three games in hand, a lot of football left to play? Do the math. It's promising.
RT: They should be pretty damn good. We've learned time and time again that the MLS Playoffs are generally defined by a team's best players stepping up, and LAFC would have two of the best in the league. MLS Playoffs, though, are fickle, so nothing is guaranteed. All of that said, LAFC would be among the favorites.
AL: This is tricky due to the concerns with Cherundolo. He has yet to show tactical flexibility, and both Son and Bouanga largely operate off the left-hand side. Sure, either can play up top, but that's not ideal. Unless there are plans to move Bouaga, which seems less likely considering Club America – the club that was closely linked with him – just signed Allan Saint-Maximin. Cherundolo is set to leave after the season, and LAFC are linked with one of Son's former managers in Ange Postecoglou. It doesn't take rocket science to put two and two together here – especially since that 17-goal season came under the outspoken Australian. Don't be surprised if that's the move that takes things to the next level, starting next season.
JS: They’ve been missing an attacking edge all season, somebody who gets them over the line when Bouanga can’t do it on his own. Cannot stress enough how important it would be for LAFC to hit with a forward this window. Just perfect.
Getty Images SportHow significant would a Son signing be for MLS?
TH: Significant, and far bigger than people think. The Asian market for soccer is enormous, and Son is poster boy. The jerseys would fly off the shelves, and here's betting that Apple TV could get a good bump in subscribers, too. If football is about marketing opportunities (it is), then MLS could exploit a massive one. Messi might sell more jerseys, but Messi fans are snobs (Ronaldo fans are snobbier, for what it's worth). But Son might actually draw more eyes to the league.
RT: Huge. Outside of Messi, Son immediately becomes the most marketable star in the league, which would be massive for a league still trying to attract eyeballs. With the Apple deal, fans all over the world are able to watch MLS games. It's safe to assume that the viewership would explode in South Korea.
AL: It would be massive. MLS has done a good job of signing well-known European stars at the end of their primes, such as Beckham, David Villa, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and has arguably the best South American player to ever lace boots in Lionel Messi. But Asia and its stars have been an untapped market for its league. There are so many big Asian stars who could be an outstanding league, and Son's arrival could lead to more. It also doesn't hurt that BMO Stadium, where LAFC play, is nearby Koreatown in LA. This is a no-brainer.
JS: It would be major for the city, and a near-perfect acquisition for LAFC. The South Korean population in LA would make it an absolute home run of a signing, and on it, Sonny becomes LAFC’s latest superstar. He would follow the likes of Carlos Vela, Bale and Giroud, and have the reigns to the program. It would be a big, big deal for both MLS and the club.
Getty Images SportCould Son play more at the top level in Europe?
TH: Definitely, but there's something to be said for leaving at the right moment. Too many have stuck around for that extra year or two, and seen their powers wane in real time. Spurs got their trophy in May. Son is 33. He has already played in Germany, and likely would've had no desire to play against his former club in the Champions League. Well timed, Sonny.
RT: Could he? Sure. There's still plenty of game left in him and plenty of clubs could have used it. At this point, though, priorities change. He got his trophy at Spurs and his storybook goodbye, paving the way for an exit. By moving to L.A., he would shorten his commute back home, live in a great city and compete at a good level. What more could you ask for?
AL: Yes, Son could easily move to Ligue 1 or the German Bundesliga and still make an impact. Yet, outside of potentially Paris, where he would not feature, there is no team in either league that offers the lifestyle of the City of Angels – or the marketing opportunities. This move could net Son millions in endorsements.
JS: This seems the right time for both parties. After Spurs won the UEL and sacked Ange, it was a changing of the guards. The moment is right – and for Son, a move to MLS is a good landing spot. He was a legend in the Premier League with Tottenham, and a move elsewhere in Europe just wouldn't seem right. Sure, he’s had a bit of a falloff over the past year, but he’s still an elite forward.