July 27 – Major League Soccer’s (MLS) LAFC are considering an audacious bid for Tottenham Hotspur legend Son Heung-min, setting up what could be MLS’s biggest coup on the west coast of the US since David Beckham’s galaxy-shaking arrival.
LAFC have made their intentions crystal clear to Tottenham, though no formal bid has landed yet. New Spurs boss, Thomas Frank is making no commitments to his captain and Son now faces a career-defining choice between another Premier League grind or California sunshine with serious money attached.
The Black and Gold have a Spursy connection with the North London club. Hugo Lloris made the same journey from North London in December 2023, swapping perpetual disappointment for MLS ambitions. Before him, Gareth Bale’s blockbuster LAFC move proved European superstars could thrive in America’s growing league, even if his injury-plagued stint never quite delivered the consistent magic fans craved.
Olivier Giroud’s recent AC Milan-to-LAFC switch shows the pathway remains attractive for aging European talent without the relentless pressure, which probably explained his underwhelming spell in the City of Angles.
Son’s situation feels different, though. At 33, he’s got genuine gas left in the tank, making this less about winding down and more about maximizing his final peak years. Frank’s refusal to guarantee Son’s Tottenham future suggests the writing is on the wall.
Frank also said he had yet to decide whether Son would retain the captaincy, speaks volumes about where the Korean sits in Spurs’ pecking order. With Mohammed Kudus arriving from West Ham and Mathys Tel’s Bayern Munich loan made permanent, Son’s pathway to regular football looks increasingly cluttered.
His lackluster second-half showing against Reading in a pre-season friendly might reflect a player whose head is already elsewhere. When you’re competing with Brennan Johnson, Dejan Kulusevski, Wilson Odobert, Manor Solomon, and rising star Mikey Moore for minutes, the MLS option starts looking attractive.
The timing works perfectly for LAFC’s recruitment strategy. They’ve proven they can handle big personalities and deliver competitive football. For Son, it offers guaranteed stardom, significant wages, and the chance to be the main attraction rather than being lost in squad depth.
With Saudi Arabia showing no interest, LAFC might have a clear run at MLS’s next marquee signing. With a large and growing Korean community in LA, Son would immediately become the talk of the town.
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