LAFC eyeing Tottenham’s Son Heung-min for summer transfer splash: Sources

AUSTIN, Texas — Los Angeles FC is pushing hard to sign Tottenham Hotspur star Son Heung-min in the summer window, according to multiple sources briefed on the discussions.LAFC’s interest in Son has been previously reported, but the MLS team is pushing hard to bring the South Korean international to MLS in the coming weeks. One source said there has not yet been substantial movement toward any resolution, but talks continue and the hope in L.A. is that Son will be convinced to join the team for the rest of the 2025 season and beyond.The MLS secondary window opens July 24 and runs through Aug. 21Son, 33, seems to be outside of new Tottenham head coach Thomas Frank’s plans for Spurs — at least in his regular featured role. Asked recently about transfer speculation around the Spurs legend, Frank said it was a “tricky” situation.“Right now, I have a player who is fully committed and training well, and will play tomorrow,” Frank said. “If a player has been at a club a long time, then there will always be a decision for the club to take.”Son finally won a trophy with Spurs when they lifted the UEFA Europa League in May. He finished as a Premier League runner-up in 2017 and a Champions League finalist in 2019 and was also beaten by Manchester City in the 2021 Carabao Cup final.Spurs travel to Asia for a preseason tour this weekend, playing Arsenal in Hong Kong on July 31 and Newcastle in Seoul on Aug. 3. The Telegraph reported Son’s presence is key for Spurs due to a clause that would impact as much as 75% of their fee playing in Seoul if Son is not part of the touring squad.Largely considered to be one of the top players in the Premier League over the last decade, Son would undoubtedly be one of the biggest signings in MLS history. The winger scored 10 or more goals in eight consecutive Premier League seasons. That streak was snapped last year when he finished with seven goals and nine assists in 30 appearances.A hugely popular figure in South Korea and across Asia, Son would be an enormous commercial boost for LAFC in its home market, as well. Los Angeles is the metropolitan area with the largest Korean population in the U.S. (320,000), according to Pew Research Center, ranking ahead of New York (215,000) and Washington, D.C. (95,000) metro areas.With Rodrigo de Paul set to sign in Miami, Son would also be the second major signing of the summer transfer window if LAFC is able to get the deal over the line. LAFC currently has two open designated player spots after mutually terminating its deal with striker Olivier Giroud.Should he sign with LAFC, Son would be reunited with longtime Tottenham teammate Hugo Lloris. The French goalkeeper signed with LAFC in 2024 and has played 52 league games over the past season-plus.LAFC currently sits in fifth place in the Western Conference but has multiple games in hand after participating in the FIFA Club World Cup.David Ornstein contributed to this report.(Top photo: Michael Steele/Getty Images)Paul Tenorio is a senior writer for The Athletic who covers soccer. He has previously written for the Washington Post, the Orlando Sentinel, FourFourTwo, ESPN and MLSsoccer.com. Follow Paul on Twitter @PaulTenorio