• Bundesliga

Agent: Son snubbed Liverpool and Spurs

ESPN staff
June 17, 2013
Heung-Min Son had the chance to move to England © AP
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Heung-Min Son snubbed interest from the Premier League to join Bayer Leverkusen as he preferred to remain in the Bundesliga, the attacker's agent has revealed.

Son, 20, joined the BayArena side from Hamburg for a reported fee of €10 million last week.

The transfer paved the way for Leverkusen winger Andre Schurrle to finally complete a switch to Chelsea, with the Bundesliga club having found their replacement for the Germany international.

Son's agent, Thies Bliemeister, claims his client could have ended up in the Premier League, but despite opting to remain in Germany, he does have ambitions of one day moving to England.

"Liverpool, Tottenham, Fulham, Southampton and Cardiff were all interested, Chelsea and [Manchester] City scouted Son. I am of the opinion he could have played at clubs like Liverpool or Tottenham," Bliemeister told Bild.

"But I believe Leverkusen is the best step for the next two or three years to develop further. Of course, the Premier League could be the destination at some point. But the Bundesliga is getting better and more interesting every day. He does not want to leave that stage."

The South Korea international also explained that it was time for him to make the next step - one that he is very much looking forward to.

"I had a wonderful time in Hamburg. But I am delighted that I now make the next step and will be able to play Champions League football," he told Express. "That is important for me looking towards the World Cup. Bayer is a great destination."

Son also claims he had the opportunity to move to Borussia Dortmund, but says he chose Leverkusen as he believes he has a better chance of gaining regular first-team football there.

"Both teams play Champions League football, but I figured that there will be more rotation in Dortmund. That's why I decided for Leverkusen. At my age the most important thing is to play regularly," he said.

Son is currently away with the South Korea national team, who have a vital World Cup qualifier coming up against Iran on Tuesday.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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