Report: Bayern Munich want Tottenham's Son Heung-Min — but is the rumor true?

We were so busy watching Germany drop another disasterclass on the pitch yesterday, we almost forgot to cover this rumor. According to FootyInsider247, Bayern Munich have set their sights on Tottenham Hotspur star Son Heung-Min. The report doesn't have much content, but it says that the Bavarians are ready to wait a year and get Son on a low transfer fee next summer when his contract enters its last year.

Is this rumor true?

That's probably the question you're all asking. Well, there are three basic ways to evaluate any transfer rumor, so let’s go through all of them.

Source

Any website with the name FootyInsider247 probably isn’t a very reliable source. We’re not talking about the BBC or The Guardian here. So that’s a big X mark against the rumor already. Of course, we live in an era where breaking news can come from a Twitter account masquerading as a gerbil, so anything can be true.

Plausibility

Does Son fit Bayern Munich? The answer is a resounding yes. The winger is a proven quantity in both the Bundesliga and Premier League, and one of the few EPL players that doesn’t get hyped for no reason. The man is a lethal forward, and already has 18 goals and 16 assists in 41 games this season. He could easily play the role of either Serge Gnabry or Leroy Sane on the wings, or serve as a backup to Robert Lewandowski and Thomas Muller up top.

In terms of fit, there are few players out there that that suit Bayern better than Son.

Timing

Son’s current contract expires in the summer of 2023, which is still two years away. Spurs are reportedly working on an extension, but who knows if the player will agree if they miss out on Champions League qualification next year. This would, theoretically, provide Bayern an avenue to swoop in and snatch him up.

Unfortunately, the timing isn’t in Son’s favor. The South Korean forward is already 28, and will turn 29 before next season. For Bayern to wait a year, it would mean getting the player when he’s 30, and most likely on sky-high wages. While Son doesn’t have the threat of military service looming over his head anymore, it’s unlikely that the bosses will move for a player at that age when the club already has youngsters like Serge Gnabry, Leroy Sane, Kingsley Coman, and Jamal Musiala for the winger role.

This is where the whole rumor falls apart, unfortunately. Son would be way too expensive and too old for Bayern to sign next summer, so he’ll either sign an extension at Spurs or move elsewhere. It was nice to dream about signing a talented player like Son for a little while, but the facts simply do not check out. Too bad.