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Spurs' Son Heung-Min disappointed with season, ignoring exit rumours

Son Heung-Min says he has been disappointed with his first season at Tottenham but insists he is unconcerned about rumours linking him with a move away from the club.

Son joined Spurs in a £22 million deal from Bayer Leverkusen last summer but has struggled for form and fitness in the Premier League.

The South Korea international made 28 league appearances this season, starting 13, but he completed 90 minutes just once and finished the campaign on a low when he was withdrawn at half-time of Spurs' humiliating 5-1 defeat to Newcastle United on the final day.

According to the Daily Telegraph, Son could be the highest-profile casualty of Spurs' late-season collapse but the 23-year-old says he will learn from the campaign.

"My first season in the Premier League didn't meet my expectations, but I had a good experience," Son told the Yonhap News Agency. "For my first season, I played with the thought that I should learn many things here.

"I haven't heard anything from the club regarding those transfer rumours. I'm sure my club will take care of this, and I think there is nothing special for me to be worried about."

Son also revealed he is eager to play in this summer's Olympic Games for South Korea and says he has asked Tottenham to release him for the tournament.

Olympic squads are restricted to players aged under 23 with three overaged wildcard players, and South Korea will need Tottenham's permission to pick Son, who turns 24 in July, because the Olympic tournament is not part of FIFA's international match calendar.

"I already told my club that I want to go the Olympics, and they seemed to be examining my request with a positive attitude," he said.

Athletes who earn an Olympic medal are exempt from South Korea's mandatory two-year military service -- obligatory for all citizens -- which could be beneficial to Tottenham in the future.

South Korea's first match is against Fiji on Aug. 4 and, if selected, Son could be unavailable until Aug. 20 which would see him miss a significant chunk of preseason and the start of next term.