Tottenham transfer news: Son Heung-min ‘could join Napoli’ as Spurs star likes Italy, confirms agent

The Korean forward has established himself as a key player for Spurs

Son Heung-min’s Spurs future is up in the air with his agent claiming this week ‘you can never say never’ to Serie A move.

His standout performances were always going to attract bidders, and it appears Napoli are the leading party in the pursuit of Spurs’ number seven.

The Korean forward scored 12 and assisted six goals last season in the Premier League, and also proved crucial on Tottenham’s road to the Champions League final scoring a vital quarter-final first leg goal against Man City.

Four months later, things aren’t so rosy at Spurs after a 7-2 defeat to Bayern in midweek leaving manager Mauricio Pochettino under increasing scrutiny.

Son’s agent appears to be flirting with the idea of a move to southern Italy, where Carlo Ancelotti’s side already have an array of attacking talent.

Speaking to Italian station Radio Marte, Thies Bliemeister, the Tottenham star’s agent, revealed the player’s love for Italy could see him make the move to Serie A.

“I’ve never brought a player to Napoli, but I’d like to because [Diego] Maradona, my favourite player, played for them,’ Bliemeister told Radio Marte, as reported by Goal.

‘I’ve talked to Napoli in the past, with executives who are no longer at the club. I’ll take advantage of this double-header with Salzburg to talk to them.

Son could be open to a move to Serie A (AFP/Getty) (AFP/Getty Images)

‘As for Son at Napoli, why not? You can never say never in football. Son likes Italy, the food and Italian people. It’s not easy to take him from Tottenham because he costs a lot but, one day, who knows?’

Elsewhere, Manchester United’s search for a striker goes on, with summer target Mario Mandzukic still linked to an Old Trafford move.

He’s joined in the Manchester rumour mill by Bournemouth striker Callum Wilson, as reported by Sky Sports.

He has been in fine form this season on five goals in seven league games.

In the last 18 months, the England international reportedly attracted interest from Chelsea and Everton more recently.

Man United have been linked with Callum Wilson (AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images)

His pace and dynamism would make him an ideal like-for-like backup for Marcus Rashford.

Over in Istanbul, loanee Besiktas keeper Loris Karius has claimed he can play for Liverpool again despite his checkered past at Anfield.

He said: ‘Will I play for Liverpool again? Of course it’s an option and a good option to still be there,’ he said. ‘Maybe I’ll play for them again, you never know. It’s still far ahead. If it’s not Liverpool, it will be another decent team, so I’m not worried about any scenario.

“The Premier League is the best league so it is interesting of course. If you play in England you’re always a bit more in the spotlight, but I’m at a good club now so we will see what happens at the end of the season.

“I don’t think about Kiev anymore, it’s so long ago, nearly two seasons now.. There were so many circumstances. I had a bad injury and nobody was talking about it. People can say what they want, it doesn’t really concern me anymore.”

Back in North London, or shall we say southern France, Laurent Koscielny has revealed wy he left Arsenal, citing playing time and family reasons as his main motives.

He told L’Equipe: “A Premier League season is very long. It requires a lot physically and mentally. I didn’t feel I could play 40-50 matches and I didn’t want to end my career with injuries. I’ve gone down a level, but to take more pleasure.

The Juventus striker is set to move on in the coming months (Getty)

“Either I finished there or changed clubs. With my family, we felt it was time. Everything was in my thinking: football, my physical state, my wife, my children, the daily life we could have.

“I can only say that I left with my head held high. All of those I worked with for nine years... everyone respected my decision to return home with my family.”

And finally, Pep Guardiola has claimed Man City will not spend in January despite an injury crisis in his back four.

With Aymeric Laporte out for a long spell and John Stones also injured, Nicolas Otamendi has stepped in and has been partnered by midfielder Fernandinho at centre-back.

Pep clearly trusts his players, but with the resources at the club’s disposal and a title race to win, it would be strange to see no movement in the January window.