Why one of the “greatest treasures of the Bundesliga” could be the new Son of Spurs

Tottenham Hotspur’s forward line has once been the envy of the Premier League, with Harry Kane and Heung-min Son leading the charge this season in north London.

They were strong and full, almost unstoppable at their best, with the exception of the long memory being Kane’s four assists against the South Korean at Southampton in September 2020.

With the pair having departed in 2023 and 2025, respectively, that void has been felt more and more of late, with only Richarlison reaching double figures in goals and assists in the top flight last season.

There can, of course, be no complaints about the Lilywhites’ summer business so far, but the squad looks low, leaving the attacking unit looking somewhat lacking in 2026/27.

Why Spurs haven’t replaced Son Heung-min yet

This summer the north Londoners have almost got a new backline and midfield unit, although attacking reinforcements are still to come, although the club has endured problems in that department in recent seasons.

It’s telling that Spurs’ second top scorer in the Premier League last season was Joao Palhinha with just five goals, while centre-backs Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero tied for third out of four.

ENIC played a major role in both Xavi Simons and Mohammed Kudus last summer, although the pair scored four goals between them, having finished the campaign on the medical table.

As for the left-wing options specifically, Randal Kolo Muani – who switched to the right at the tail end of the season – scored one league goal, while ex-Bayern Munich player Mathys Tel scored just four.

Wilson Odobert, on the other hand, is another one who has been hit hard by injury, with the Spurs boss signing 2024/25 top-scorer Brennan Johnson in January, leaving Roberto De Zerbi very short on signings.

Son, having endured a painful World Cup, perhaps left at the right time, although he had registered 16 goals and assists in the league in his final year, that consistency is yet to be changed.

How Spurs plan to finally replace Heung-min Son this summer

Thankfully, there is no shortage of left-back options on the market, with AC Milan’s Rafael Leao among those on the agenda, amid claims the Portuguese speedster has agreed a move to north London.

There could also be a surprise for Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo on the way, with the Dutchman scoring three goals at the World Cup, despite his country’s quick exit.

Sticking with those to keep an eye on this summer, TEAMtalk now report that Spurs could once again challenge Arsenal for the signing of Norwegian Antonio Nusa, with Premier League interest growing in the RB Leipzig man.

The suggestion is that Tottenham have already held talks with the player’s representatives, and the 21-year-old’s deal could be struck for around £51m.

The youngster is also attracting attention from international clubs, and it’s no surprise, as talent scout Jacek Kulig hailed him as one of the “biggest treasures of the Bundesliga”.

Direct and powerful, he is equally dangerous on the left, as was recently seen in Norway’s 2-1 win over Ivory Coast, as Nusa volleyed home from the far corner.

That marked a breakthrough moment after a muted start to the tournament, suggesting, as expected at the age of 21, that he is prone to flash more light than anything currently available.

While De Zerbi may be looking for ready-made additions, Nusa’s inconsistency is not something to worry too much about, as he has notched 13 goals and an assist in the Bundesliga over the past two seasons.

A possible replacement for the N17 – in the form of Son – did not hit the mark following his move from Germany in 2015, with the then 23-year-old scoring just four goals in his first Premier League season.

Like Nusa, the former Bayer Leverkusen wideman had shown enough to be encouraged by his former club, his final season at Leverkusen seeing him record 12 goals and an assist in the league. Again, a solid return, yet not overly spectacular.

The rest, as they say, is history in Son’s case, as he emerged as a star in north London, and the opportunity for Nusa to follow in his footsteps.

Where he shines, it has to be said in his ability to handle balls, especially averaging a stellar 2.2 successful dribbles per game in 2025/26.

In context, if we look back at the 2019/20 season where Son reached double figures in both goals and assists in the league, and his average for that was 2.1.

That also speaks to the similarities between the two, with Nusa’s capture looking set to be just what Spurs have been clamoring for – provided they can outbid Arsenal for his signature, that is.