Son's Tottenham move a 'sad story' says Schmidt

Bayer Leverkusen head coach Roger Schmidt says he is disappointed by the timing of Son Heung-min's likely departure to Tottenham, but does not begrudge the South Korea international seeking a move to the Premier League.

Leverkusen's sporting director Rudi Voller has confirmed the 23-year-old forward, who missed his team's 3-0 win in the second leg of their Champions League play-off over Lazio on Wednesday, has undergone a medical at Spurs.

Mauricio Pochettino's north London side have reportedly submitted a bid of €30 million for the former Hamburg man and, speaking after guiding his side into the group stage of the Champions League, Schmidt described Son's desire to move on as inevitable, though he is not happy about losing a key player so early in the new season, particularly as the transfer window nears.

"I think it's a sad story," he said.

"I can certainly understand that a player thinks about his career and would like to make a transfer at the right time. That is absolutely legitimate and ok. This is football business.

"But he was settled in this team very well, not only as a player, but emotionally too. I wish this story would finish another way."

Voller meanwhile attributed Son's absence on Wednesday to illness and insisted any potential transfer is yet to be finalised, with the former Germany international holding out hope of retaining the winger.

"There is a request and there are talks. But nothing is done," he said.

"Son would not have played today anyway, he was sick at the weekend. At the moment, he is still our player. I have seen many medicals in this business where there was no deal afterwards."