[스포츠조선 김성원 기자]‘High school winger’ Yang Min-hyuk (18, Gangwon FC)’s early joining of Tottenham is a hot topic in England as well. Yang Min-hyuk’s Tottenham watch starts on January 1 next year. However, as Tottenham requested Yang Min-hyuk to join early, he is scheduled to join Tottenham in mid-December, earlier than originally planned.”); Yang Min-hyuk will rest for about 15 days after completing the 2024 season schedule with the K-League awards ceremony on the 29th. He is scheduled to board a plane to London immediately, and Britain’s ‘Football London’ explained the background. ‘Football London’ said, ‘Yang Min-hyuk will arrive earlier than the January 1st joining date and will be given sufficient time to adapt. ‘Tottenham currently has a problem with the winger position, with Wilson Odover and Richarlison unable to play due to hamstring (back of the thigh) injuries, and Mikey Moore and Timo Werner also recently suffering from muscle problems. He said, “I recently returned after going through this.”
It’s exactly as described. Tottenham’s team situation is the reason for Yang Min-hyuk’s early joining. Tottenham is currently in 10th place with 5 wins, 1 draw, and 5 losses, and 16 points. The results are below expectations.
It was busy and there were even injuries one after another. Starting with Odover, who was ambitiously recruited this season, is virtually out for the season, Richarlison is also rarely playing due to frequent injuries.
‘Captain’ Son Heung-min’s physical condition is also uncertain. Son Heung-min, who has played every season without injury, has already missed six games this season, including the Europa League and League Cup. The October international match was also suspended. Werner and Moore, who were called as replacements for Son Heung-min, are not performing as expected. To make matters worse, both of them are not in good condition recently. Tottenham faces a hellish schedule that requires them to play as many as nine games in December alone, including Boxing Day. As the offensive line is uncertain, additional attackers are desperately needed. This is the background to the early call to Yang Min-hyuk.
Yang Min-hyuk is the greatest hit product that Korean soccer has produced. Yang Min-hyuk, who debuted in the K-League as a semi-professional player, has been flying high since his first year of debut. Starting from the opening game, he started all games and broke all records as the youngest player in the club, including appearances, points, and attack points. With 11 goals and 6 assists, he went beyond being a rookie and became a leading striker in the league. Europe paid attention to the amazing performance of the supernova. Big leagues and big clubs sent love calls to Yang Min-hyuk, and the winner was Tottenham. Tottenham welcomed Yang Min-hyuk by paying the club’s 18-year-old record and the highest transfer fee (estimated at 4 million euros, approximately 6 billion won) for a direct transfer to K-League Europe. Tottenham announced, ‘Yang Min-hyuk will be loaned to his current team Gangwon and play until the end of this year and then join the team in January 2025.’
However, the atmosphere changed with the arrival in December, earlier than in January.
Tottenham’s request to join early is a positive signal for Yang Min-hyuk. Tottenham regards Yang Min-hyuk as the present, not the future. Joining early means that you will be used as a first-team resource right away. In fact, an official in the transfer market also said, “During the negotiations, Tottenham had indicated several times that they would immediately have Yang Min-hyuk active in the first team.”
Yang Min-hyuk may get a chance to play as quickly as possible. Tottenham has a tight schedule in December, so player rotation is inevitable. It will not be easy for Yang Min-hyuk to have to play again without a break after completing his debut season, but if he performs better than expected in the given opportunity, he can quickly make a mark. It could lead to a quick soft landing.
Son Heung-min is also a great force. ‘Football London’ also expected that ‘Yang Min-hyuk will at least have a perfect mentor in captain Son Heung-min.’ Son Heung-min said of Yang Min-hyuk last summer: “He’s amazing. He’s doing a fantastic job in his first season in the K-League. I saw him for the first time yesterday, and he was very shy. Yang Min-hyuk is very young and hasn’t finished high school yet. What an amazing thing. I’m getting old. “I think so,” he laughed.
He also emphasized, “I told Yang Min-hyuk to study English hard. There is enough time. He is very talented. I look forward to seeing him in a Tottenham uniform.”
Coach Enze Postecoglou said, “I am delighted that Min-Hyuk Yang is part of the club. We discovered him in our scouting department. He is a talented young player and we are excited about the present and the future.”
Yang Min-hyuk also said, “It is an honor to join such a big club. I will do my best to show it. I don’t think I am that young. I am chasing my dream. It is a big challenge. I can show and prove my talent.” “I believe that joining a big club like Tottenham means that the club recognizes my abilities and that I will improve a lot if I do my best and work hard.”
Reporter Kim Seong-won [email protected]
