Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou has offered his reaction to Son Heung-min's new contract extension, emphasising the importance of the South Korea international managing to win a trophy in North London.
Spurs confirmed on Tuesday morning that they had exercised their option to keep Son at the club until the end of the 2025-26 season, having apparently decided several weeks ago that they would be triggering that clause.
Son will be approaching his 34th birthday by the time his current deal runs out, but the former Bayer Leverkusen man is still searching for his first piece of silverware since joining the club in 2015.
Tottenham have not lifted any major trophy since triumphing in the 2007-08 EFL Cup, having a couple of near misses in the same tournament and also suffering Champions League heartbreak against Liverpool in 2019.
Son's only significant team honours have come with South Korea - winning the Asian Games in 2018 and 2019 - and Postecoglou is desperate to see the 32-year-old help Spurs end their trophy drought before bidding farewell.
Postecoglou reacts to new Son Heung-min deal
© Imago
"The main ambition is to make sure he finishes his career here with some silverware," Postecoglou told reporters in Tuesday's press conference ahead of Wednesday's EFL Cup semi-final first leg against Liverpool.
Postecoglou has not shied away from trophy talk this season, memorably claiming that he "always" wins tournaments in his second year in a job, a statement that is backed up by his managerial history.
Spurs are still fighting for success on four fronts this season, but they reside in the bottom half of the Premier League table with just over half of the season gone and are also just outside the guaranteed last-16 spots in the Europa League table
However, Son and Tottenham could potentially just be three games away from ending their 17-year trophy drought, as the Reds arrive in North London for the first leg of their semi-final tomorrow before the return fixture at Anfield.
Delivering a team news update to the media, Postecoglou had mostly positives to share, confirming that new goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky has received his work permit and is available to make his debut.
Kinsky available but two key players banned vs. Liverpool
© Imago
Mikey Moore could also be back on the bench after a long illness, while most players affected by the recent bug are also on the mend, but Pape Sarr and James Maddison are suspended for the first leg.
"Net wise I still think we're down. Bentancur is back but we lose Maddison and Sarr. Mikey potentially could be back on the bench," Postecoglou added. "Everyone from the weekend certainly feels better. Radu [Dragusin] is better and Archie [Gray]. Deki was a bit under the weather but he should be fine.
Asked specifically whether Kinsky might feature after his £12.5m arrival from Slavia Prague, Postecoglou added: "We'll see. He arrived Sunday and he's had a couple of days' of training. He's obviously registered to play."
However, Richarlison (hamstring) is not ready to return to action despite coming back to training, while Cristian Romero, Ben Davies, Wilson Odobert, Micky van de Ven, Guglielmo Vicario and Destiny Udogie are still sidelined.
Ben Knapton
