Pochettino pleased Son decided to stay

At the end of the season Mauricio Pochettino assessed his option and decided the players who he wanted to stay regardless of any offers, like Erik Lamela, those player who he would happily keep but would listen to offers for if they wanted to leave, like Ryan Mason and those that he felt he didn't need, like Federico Fazio.

Pochettino wanted Son to stay and although the winger discussed offers from other clubs he was also quite happy to stay at White hart Lane. German side Wolfsburg made a summer bid for the most expensive player in Asian history of £20.24-million (€24m - AUS$35.82m - US$26.96m) which the club turned down and quoted a valuation of £33.73-million (€40m - AUS$59.70m - US$44.93m).

We were never going to sell him without finding an experienced replacement and as we hadn't the club wouldn't have let him leave anyway.

"Last season was tough for him and we have to make the decision, in or out. We took the decision for him to stay with us and I'm very pleased now. He had the opportunity to play and show he can help us. We're very pleased for him."

His decision during the international break to skip the final World Cup qualifier and return to Spurs wouldn't have been taken without consultation with the South Korean management and Tottenham. From a personal point of view and a Tottenham point of view, that decision was vindicated with a super two-goal show, as was the decision to retain him at Spurs.

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