Son Heung-min chose to join Tottenham despite strong interest from both Manchester City and Liverpool.

The South Korea international is expected to make his Spurs debut at Sunderland on Sunday after joining from Bayer Leverkusen for £22million last month.

The fee for Son was the highest in history for an Asian footballer, but Standard Sport can reveal the 23-year-old resisted overtures from City – who are competing in the Champions League – as well as Liverpool.

Son’s camp have carefully mapped out his career and it is thought they consider Tottenham, a club where the forward is likely to play most weeks, a better option at the moment than City or Liverpool.

Those clubs have larger squads that Spurs and players new to English football are likely to find it difficult to break through as a consequence.

Son could have joined Spurs two years ago but decided instead to move from Hamburg to Leverkusen, as it was felt he needed experience of playing at a high level in the Bundesliga before he moved abroad.

How did Tottenham's players fare on international duty? 12 show all How did Tottenham's players fare on international duty? 1/12 Hugo Lloris (France) The Spurs goalkeeper completed 90 minutes in both of France's recent friendlies. The 28-year-old kept out Cristiano Ronaldo and co to claim a clean sheet during a 1-0 victory against Portugal and conceded a solitary strike in the 2-1 win over Serbia. Little could be done to keep out Aleksandar Mitrovic's fortuitous deflected effort. (4) Dennis Grombkowski/Bongarts/Getty Images 2/12 Toby Alderweireld (Belgium) The Belgian has partnered compatriot Jan Vertonghen in the centre of defence at White Hart Lane this term but was shifted out to right back for the national side in the past week due to fierce competition for places. The Red Devils are on course to qualify for Euro 2016 after victories against Cyprus and Bosnia & Herzegovina as Alderweireld once again proved his versatility. (4) 3/12 Jan Vertonghen (Belgium) Like his Tottenham central defensive partner, Vertonghen is unable to command a starting berth for the national side in his preferred position. The 28-year-old slotted in at left back and provided an assured presence on the flank as Belgium saw off both Cyprus and Bosnia & Herzegovina to close in on a place at Euro 2016. (4) 4/12 Kevin Wimmer (Austria) The 22-year-old has been an understudy at club level so far this season and fulfills a similar role for his nation. Uncapped at senior level, the central defender was on the bench as Group G leaders Austria claimed a place at Euro 2016 in style with a 4-1 victory over Sweden. Although Wimmer did not feature, the experience will have been a positive one. (3) 5/12 Ben Davies (Wales) The Welshman's battle for a place at left back with Danny Rose is an intriguing one but he is firmly established in Chris Coleman's side. The Welsh have been made to wait to secure a place in next year's tournament after being stifled by Israel but the 22-year-old will deservedly be part of the squad that will travel to France. (4) 6/12 Ryan Mason (England) Mason's impressive form has seen him leapfrog several other midfielders vying for position in England's squad, but he did not feature in either of the Three Lions' fixtures. The 24-year-old will have been pleased to be deemed worthy of inclusion yet also disheartened when Ross Barkley was given the nod instead of him after Fabian Delph's early withdrawal against Switzerland. Should be hungry to play this weekend. (2) 7/12 Erik Lamela (Argentina) Despite his average form for Spurs, the midfielder was included in Argentina's squad for their two friendlies against Bolivia and Mexico. Lamela started against the former but failed to get on the scoresheet in a 7-0 hammering before being dropped for the clash with the Mexicans. The 23-year-old watched on as established figures Lionel Messi and Sergio Aguero were called upon to salvage a 2-2 draw. (3) 8/12 Clinton N'Jie (Cameroon) New signing N'Jie travelled to Gambia with Cameroon as the Indomitable Lions maintained their perfect start to Africa Cup of Nations qualifying. N'Jie played 80 minutes as his side beat Mauritania last time out but was one of several players to make way this time around. The travelling time the forward has undertaken could harm his hopes of making his Premier League debut this weekend. (3) 9/12 Nacer Chadli (Belgium) Chadli is a constant in Belgium's squad but could struggle to claim a starting berth in the future. Marc Wilmots' side produced two hardfought displays to close in on a place at Euro 2016 but the Spurs midfielder did not feature in either. An unused substitute against both Bosnia and Cyprus, the 26-year-old could be squeezed out of contention by the likes of Kevin De Bruyne. (2) 10/12 Christian Eriksen (Denmark) The Tottenham midfielder's knee injury was expected to keep him out of Denmark's qualifier with Albania on Friday, but it was hoped he would be able to return against Armenia. However, the 23-year-old's complaint has still not fully healed and he was unable to feature. Mauricio Pochettino will be desperate for him to return to full fitness. (1) 11/12 Harry Kane (England) Things couldn't have gone much better for Kane during the international break. Although he was unfortunate not to be handed a starting berth by Roy Hodgson he successfully forced his way firmly into the manager's thoughts with two superb substitute appearances. Spurs fans will hope the 22-year-old's sublime finishes against both San Marino and Switzerland will help him to get off the mark in the Premier League. (5) 12/12 Son Heung-min (South Korea) Tottenham fans could be excused for not knowing a great deal about their new signing but will have heard all about his exploits against Laos last Thursday. The forward scored a hat trick in an 8-0 rout and will come back to north London full of confidence, although he did miss the subsequent win over Lebanon. (5) 1/12 Hugo Lloris (France) The Spurs goalkeeper completed 90 minutes in both of France's recent friendlies. The 28-year-old kept out Cristiano Ronaldo and co to claim a clean sheet during a 1-0 victory against Portugal and conceded a solitary strike in the 2-1 win over Serbia. Little could be done to keep out Aleksandar Mitrovic's fortuitous deflected effort. (4) Dennis Grombkowski/Bongarts/Getty Images 2/12 Toby Alderweireld (Belgium) The Belgian has partnered compatriot Jan Vertonghen in the centre of defence at White Hart Lane this term but was shifted out to right back for the national side in the past week due to fierce competition for places. The Red Devils are on course to qualify for Euro 2016 after victories against Cyprus and Bosnia & Herzegovina as Alderweireld once again proved his versatility. (4) 3/12 Jan Vertonghen (Belgium) Like his Tottenham central defensive partner, Vertonghen is unable to command a starting berth for the national side in his preferred position. The 28-year-old slotted in at left back and provided an assured presence on the flank as Belgium saw off both Cyprus and Bosnia & Herzegovina to close in on a place at Euro 2016. (4) 4/12 Kevin Wimmer (Austria) The 22-year-old has been an understudy at club level so far this season and fulfills a similar role for his nation. Uncapped at senior level, the central defender was on the bench as Group G leaders Austria claimed a place at Euro 2016 in style with a 4-1 victory over Sweden. Although Wimmer did not feature, the experience will have been a positive one. (3) 5/12 Ben Davies (Wales) The Welshman's battle for a place at left back with Danny Rose is an intriguing one but he is firmly established in Chris Coleman's side. The Welsh have been made to wait to secure a place in next year's tournament after being stifled by Israel but the 22-year-old will deservedly be part of the squad that will travel to France. (4) 6/12 Ryan Mason (England) Mason's impressive form has seen him leapfrog several other midfielders vying for position in England's squad, but he did not feature in either of the Three Lions' fixtures. The 24-year-old will have been pleased to be deemed worthy of inclusion yet also disheartened when Ross Barkley was given the nod instead of him after Fabian Delph's early withdrawal against Switzerland. Should be hungry to play this weekend. (2) 7/12 Erik Lamela (Argentina) Despite his average form for Spurs, the midfielder was included in Argentina's squad for their two friendlies against Bolivia and Mexico. Lamela started against the former but failed to get on the scoresheet in a 7-0 hammering before being dropped for the clash with the Mexicans. The 23-year-old watched on as established figures Lionel Messi and Sergio Aguero were called upon to salvage a 2-2 draw. (3) 8/12 Clinton N'Jie (Cameroon) New signing N'Jie travelled to Gambia with Cameroon as the Indomitable Lions maintained their perfect start to Africa Cup of Nations qualifying. N'Jie played 80 minutes as his side beat Mauritania last time out but was one of several players to make way this time around. The travelling time the forward has undertaken could harm his hopes of making his Premier League debut this weekend. (3) 9/12 Nacer Chadli (Belgium) Chadli is a constant in Belgium's squad but could struggle to claim a starting berth in the future. Marc Wilmots' side produced two hardfought displays to close in on a place at Euro 2016 but the Spurs midfielder did not feature in either. An unused substitute against both Bosnia and Cyprus, the 26-year-old could be squeezed out of contention by the likes of Kevin De Bruyne. (2) 10/12 Christian Eriksen (Denmark) The Tottenham midfielder's knee injury was expected to keep him out of Denmark's qualifier with Albania on Friday, but it was hoped he would be able to return against Armenia. However, the 23-year-old's complaint has still not fully healed and he was unable to feature. Mauricio Pochettino will be desperate for him to return to full fitness. (1) 11/12 Harry Kane (England) Things couldn't have gone much better for Kane during the international break. Although he was unfortunate not to be handed a starting berth by Roy Hodgson he successfully forced his way firmly into the manager's thoughts with two superb substitute appearances. Spurs fans will hope the 22-year-old's sublime finishes against both San Marino and Switzerland will help him to get off the mark in the Premier League. (5) 12/12 Son Heung-min (South Korea) Tottenham fans could be excused for not knowing a great deal about their new signing but will have heard all about his exploits against Laos last Thursday. The forward scored a hat trick in an 8-0 rout and will come back to north London full of confidence, although he did miss the subsequent win over Lebanon. (5)

The absence of Champions League football this season is not thought to concern Son, as he is convinced he will eventually fulfil those ambitions in English football.

Son trained with his new team-mates this week and it is thought he will play at least a part of the game at the Stadium of Light.