Tottenham must use Son’s leverage to sign South Korean compatriot
By Gary Pearson
Thanks in part to a few impressive performances in the Europa League, Hee-chan Hwang’s stock is steadily rising, and it would be in Spurs best interest to snap him up at his current economical market valuation.
And this time Spurs have a marked competitive advantage over the rest of field. Hwang and Son Heung-Min are as thick as thieves, close allies. Both play for South Korea, and the pair have become tight friends, compadres on the international stage.
Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund are also in the hunt to capture the 22-year-old South Korean’s services. While Hwang was, before the 2017-18 season, largely untested and unproven at an elite level, he made his mark with a pivotal goal in the Europa League quarterfinal to help Red Bull Salzburg past Lazio.
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Son can use his influence to convince Hwang that Tottenham is the most desirable destination, a place that will best serve his burgeoning career.
Taking into consideration the club’s past failings with secondary strikers, you can’t fault Tottenham if they’re somewhat reserved in the pursuit of the young South Korean. Roberto Soldado, meant to be Spurs’ answer up front, flopped painstakingly at Tottenham, while Vincent Janssen and Fernando Llorente also failed miserably, albeit in more bit-part roles.
Hwang, though, is worth what would, in the grand scheme of things, constitute a minimal risk. It’s reported that Salzburg Red Bull are asking £13 million for their blossoming South Korean.
If Spurs have learned anything about previous dealings, they’ll know Hwang offers an opportunity they won’t want to let slip through the often porous transfer gate. While far less proven than Son was when Spurs signed him from Bayer Leverkusen, Hwang has too many upsides to ignore.
And with Son on his side, assimilation to Tottenham, England and the Premier League will be strikingly easier. He’s also the type of individual who would relish an understudy role.
Next: Should Kane or Vertonghen be Spurs' next captain?
Playing second fiddle to Harry Kane is a deterrent for many bonafide forwards, but Hwang, like Son before him, has the patience, temperament and youthful exuberance to fine tune his game while learning from the world’s best.