Jose Mourinho would “love” Son Heung-min to sign a new long-term contract at Tottenham Hotspur and believes the South Korean will only be considered world class when the media realises he is.
Spurs are hoping to tie Son down a bumper new deal following yet another impressive season so far with nine goals and four assists from his eight matches so far.
After watching the 28-year-old score yet again to round off Tottenham’s 3-0 Europa League win against LASK on Thursday night, Mourinho admitted he would like the popular attacker to commit his future to the north London club.
“I would love that. Son has three years of contract so it’s not like we’re in an extreme situation of everybody being worried. It’s more that Son loves it here, I believe that he would like to commit his future to the club for a long time,” he said.
“Everybody at the club is totally in love with this player and this boy and is trying also to make him feel part of the furniture.
“It’s normal the club tries to go from three years to four or five or six, I don’t know. It’s normal, but it’s a very calm situation because Sonny has three more years of contract.”
“I wish [for him to get a new contract]. He deserves one. The club knows that and sooner or later, without any pressure, they will arrive into a decision.”
The South Korea international has now scored 94 goals and laid on 51 assists, meaning a direct involvement in 145 goals in his 237 appearances for Tottenham.
Mourinho was asked whether Son is now at a level where he should be considered to be world class and in the top bracket of footballers.
“It’s up to you. He cannot do more than what he does. Season after season after season, Sonny is showing how good he is,” said the Portuguese.
“Of course, the better the team is, the easier it is for the players to emerge, but Sonny is Sonny and everyone knows what he needs to do now to go to the next step…..nothing.
“It’s up to you to do that, or he starts doing (swears) socially and becomes famous and becomes in the big headlines because of some weird, silly or naive social behaviour, because he’s such an incredible kid, also at that level. It’s up to you to tell how good he is.”
(Football London)
