By John DuerdenIt is now eight years since Son Heung-min started his first English Premier League season. When he joined Tottenham Hotspur from Bayer Leverkusen in Germany for around $30 million back in 2015, not many fans of the London club would have expected that the South Korean would still be there and now a Spurs legend. Tottenham has long been a club known for its inconsistency. But Son's consistent performances have made him one of the most rated and recognizable players in the world's most popular league. Amazingly, he is now 31 and while still fit, fast and focused, he is very much a senior player.This is a crucial season for the club. For the first time since he joined, there is no European competition to play as an eighth-place finish last season meant that Spurs missed out on the UEFA Champions League, the Europa League and the Europa Conference League. The team has a new coach after the toxic atmosphere of Antonio Conte last season. Ange Postecoglou has arrived. The Australian has won titles in his homeland as well as Japan and, most recently, Scotland with Celtic. A forward-thinking progressive and adventurous coach, he could be perfect for Son and the club which needs something of a rebuild.That is especially true given the Harry Kane saga. The England captain has been world-class for Spurs over the last decade but seems to have finally grown frustrated at the club's failure to win trophies. Last week he joined German giant Bayern Munich in a deal reportedly worth over $120 million. Kane and Son have been the most prolific strike partnership in English Premier League history, helping each other score goal after goal. Kane is not just a top-class striker but a top-class creator. He will be missed by Spurs and by Son. In the past when Kane has been out through injury, Son has stepped up well to fill the hole. But this is another challenge. The Korean is loved by fans and when the Englishman does go, Son will be a natural option to replace him as club captain.It is a little ironic that Kane has moved to Bayern, the most successful club in German history and a true continental heavyweight ― unlike Tottenham ― as he is getting another Korean teammate. Kim Min-jae has also just landed in Bavaria, arriving from Napoli where he won the Italian championship.It will be interesting to see Son, Spurs and the English Premier League without Kane. Manchester City, title-holder and European champion, is still the team to beat. Runner-up Arsenal has strengthened and looks to be the team most likely to challenge City while Liverpool, Manchester United and Newcastle United look strong but it remains to be seen if they are strong enough. Especially if Kane goes, Tottenham will probably be happy to improve on last season by getting into the top six.Anything more would be a big bonus with the task now a little more difficult without Kane. There is going to be a lot of work for Son Heung-min in the coming months.
