Transfer notebook: Son's Tottenham contract disappointment, Lopetegui safe from West Ham axe, Brighton refuse to sell surprise star
Tottenham's decision to postpone offering captain and fan favorite Heung-min Son a new contract came as a surprise to the Korean, talkSPORT understands.
Son had hoped to hold talks on a new long-term agreement, but instead Spurs They have decided to activate a one-year option in his current contract, which will tie him up until the summer of 2026.
Unless something changes, it means the 32-year-old will be available as a free agent at the end of next season, by which time he will have amassed over ten years of service at the north London club.
Son has scored 123 goals in 311 Premier League games for Tottenham, including three this season.
He is also the only survivor of the Spurs team that started the 2019 Champions League final loss to Liverpool.
Chairman Daniel Levy's stance on Son will not be welcomed by Tottenham fans, who are already unhappy after losing five of their first 11 league games of the season.
FA's fears about England come true
The huge spate of casualties from Lee Carsley's final England team as caretaker manager has not come as a surprise to the Football Association.
talkSPORT was told last week that senior FA officials feared Premier League managers were ready to pressure their players not to report for international duty ahead of the busy festive period.
So far, eight players, an unprecedented number, including Arsenal pair Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice and chelsea Cole Palmerhave been forced to withdraw from the crucial Nations League double-header against Greece and the Republic of Ireland due to injury, and that number could still rise.
While it is not unusual for there to be a higher number of casualties for international matches in November, the fact that Gareth Southgate's permanent successor Thomas Tuchel not taking office until the New Year surely hasn't helped the FA's cause.
Realistically, England need to win in Athens on Thursday to avoid finishing second in the group.
That will leave Germany's Tuchel with a playoff to face in March, when the 2026 World Cup qualifiers begin.
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Lopetegui safe… for now
Julen Lopetegui a stay of execution is expected to be granted western ham coach despite serious concerns on the board of directors about his poor start to the season and unrest in the locker room.
Lopetegui's team were booed after Saturday's 0-0 draw at home to Everton. where they were compared to 'a group of researchers' – leaving the Hammers just five points clear of the relegation zone.
As previously reported in this notebook, the Spaniard is already facing an uphill battle to convince several players of his methods just 11 Premier League games into his tenure.
But, despite making it clear that performances must improve dramatically, Hammers owner David Sullivan is determined to give Lopetegui time to turn things around after he picked the Spaniard to succeed David Moyes in the summer.
That stance has raised questions about the long-term future of West Ham sporting director Tim Steidten, who was pushing for the appointment of new manchester united boss Ruben Amorim.
Steidten has been touted as a possible Edu's successor at Arsenal.
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The seagull star stays still
Brighton I have no plans to cash in on his Leicester loanee Facundo Buonanotte, talkSPORT understands.
Argentinian trickster Buonanotte has been Leicester's standout player this season after joining the Premier League rookies in August.
His dazzling form, including three goals in seven appearances, has earned him admiring glances from other Premier League clubs, with Tottenham in particular following his progress.
But Buonanotte, who signed a new contract until 2028 shortly before moving to the King Power Stadium, will not turn 20 until December and is seen as an important part of Brighton's future plans.
