Tottenham news: Expert baffled by ‘staggering’ Son Heung-min latest – ‘it’s remarkable’
Noel Whelan has insisted it is “staggering” to see Tottenham star Son Heung-min omitted from the PFA Player of the Year shortlist.
The former Leeds striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, insisted the 29-year-old has been “one of the best players of the past three to four years”.
Son won the Premier League’s Golden Boot award alongside Liverpool ace Mohamed Salah – who was nominated for the award – with 23 top-flight strikes.
As per Sofascore (May 24), the South Korea international’s tally of 23 non-penalty goals is the most netted by any player across Europe’s top five leagues in the last five seasons.
Son’s goals helped Tottenham back into the Premier League’s top four, ensuring Champions League group stage participation for the 2022-23 season.
Whelan insisted even rival managers will recognise the former Bayer Leverkusen forward’s ability.
“I don’t know where they get their thinking from,” he told Football Insider‘s Ewan Kingsbury.
“This is someone who has won the Golden Boot – how is he not in the PFA’s mind? It’s remarkable, really.
“He’s probably been one of the best players of the past three to four years. He held the fort when Harry Kane was out and out of form.
“If you ask most managers, even Klopp and Guardiola – ‘do you want Son in your side?’ They’d say absolutely.
“It’s quite staggering to me that he’s been left out of that shortlist.”
Tottenham teammate Harry Kane was nominated for the award despite notching six fewer goal contributions than Son.
The South Korean star is out of contract in June 2025 after penning new terms last summer (2021).
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