Will Son Heung-min return to Germany?

Will Son Heung-min come back to Bundesliga Germany after a year in Tottenham?

Several reports claimed that Son Heung-min, the 13th Korean soccer player who joined the Premier League, will come back to Germany. Sky Sports Germany and other European sports sources reported on Wednesday that VfL Wolfsburg wants to take Son back to Germany by paying 17 million euros (19.13 million U.S. dollars) for the transfer. Wolfsburg ended the last season in eight but the team was a runner-up in the 2014/2015 season.

The 24-year-old Korean forward joined the Premier League from Bayer Leverkusen for a reported transfer fee of 30 million euros (33.76 million dollars), a record-high among Asian players, before the kickoff of the last season. Unfortunately, his performance in his first season in England was below the expectations. His injury kept him on the sidelines and he managed eight goals and five assists after failing to maintain good conditions.

In Bundesliga, Son recorded double-digit goals in three seasons in a row. He scored 21 goals in 61 appearances during his two seasons in Leverkusen -- 10 goals in the 2013/2014 season and 11 goals in the 2014/2015 season. He also made double-digit goals while playing for Hamburger SV in the 2012/2013 season, which Wolfsburg recognizes his performance. At the Rio Olympics, Son scored a goal in a game against Germany.

A series of reports have claimed that Son will likely return to Germany but it might be too early to tell his return. “Tottenham has high hopes for the 24-year-old striker, and Son is still a part of the team’s plan for the coming season,” reported English sources. Media have also reported that Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino still has a faith in Son’s play. “I was disappointed with my play in the first season in the Premier League but things would get better,” Son said at a fan meeting in Korea after last season, promising a better play in Premier League.

The transfer of players in Europe will end on Aug. 31. Son is in the list of players who will play against China at the Seoul World Cup Stadium on Sept. 1 for the final preliminary round in Asia for the Russia World Cup. Son will only play in the first leg of the preliminary round out of two and return to Tottenham according to an agreement made between Tottenham and Korean team coach Uli Stielike. In the end, Stielike’s team squad will change depending on a transfer of Son.

이승건기자 why@donga.com