Ange Postecoglou believes Son Heung-min’s transition from speedy winger to central striker is similar to that of Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Spurs skipper has taken the mantle from Harry Kane following his summer departure to Bayern Munich, netting seven times in nine league appearances while playing down the middle.
The switch has negated the need for the Premier League high-flyers to invest in a like-for-like replacement for their all-time top scorer.
And Postecoglou reckons the 31-year-old’s movement and intelligence makes him perfect for the role. While also drawing comparisons to Ronaldo’s late-career switch.
‘I don’t want to make a similar comparison,’ the Spurs manager told Sky Sports ahead of their game against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. ‘But you had him at Manchester United, Cristiano [Ronaldo].
‘He started off as a winger, but I always felt with Sonny [Heung-min] he’s such a great finisher, his movement is outstanding and I think he’s clever enough to play in that central area.
‘I always like his work ethic, you see his press and that’s what initiates the press from a defensive point of view and I knew he had that in him. It’s an idea I had in my mind and it worked out.’
The South Korean’s form was recognised with the September Player of the Month Award. Son scored a hat-trick at Turf Moor in the rout of Burnley, bagged a brace in the north London derby, and the opening goal in Spurs’ first win over Liverpool since 2017.