*This content was translated by AI.
Local reports indicate that Lee Tae-seok (24, Austria Vienna), son of former national team coach Lee Eul-yong and a participant in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, is attracting interest from major European clubs.
According to Sky Sports Germany and Austria editions on the 23rd (Korean time), German Bundesliga club Hamburger SV has recently shown interest in signing Lee Tae-seok. Hamburg is also the former team of Son Heung-min (LAFC).
Erik Niedercer, a reporter for Austrian Sky Sports, stated, "Hamburg has not yet made an official offer to Lee Tae-seok, but informal preliminary discussions have taken place."
Although negotiations between clubs are not yet at the stage of concrete discussions, it means that Hamburg is interested in acquiring Lee Tae-seok and is monitoring the situation.
Lee Tae-seok came through the FC Seoul youth system in professional K League 1, made his professional debut with Seoul, moved to Pohang Steelers, and then joined Austria Vienna last year to make his European debut.
In his first season in Europe during the 2025-2026 campaign, he immediately became a regular starter for the team, appearing in 30 Austrian Bundesliga matches and recording three goals and four assists.
Following such performances, Lee Tae-seok was called up by coach Hong Myung-bo and made the final roster for the recent World Cup, appearing in two matches during the tournament. With his father having played in the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup, this marks the second time a father-son duo has appeared on the World Cup stage, following Cha Bum-kun and Cha Du-ri.
However, he could not smile at his first World Cup experience. He started both matches against Czech Republic and South Africa but failed to make a significant impact in either game, instead becoming embroiled in controversy over poor performance and facing criticism.
Nevertheless, with the emergence of transfer rumors linking him to Hamburg, a major European club, there is now potential for a new turning point in his career as he moves past the disappointments of the World Cup.
Of course, having spent only one season at Austria Vienna and still having three years remaining on his contract could be variables in any potential move.
However, given that his market value according to Transfermarkt is only 2 million euros (approximately 3.4 billion won), he is not a player with an exorbitant price tag. Therefore, unless Austria Vienna adopts a 'no transfer' policy, there is a high likelihood of reaching an agreement at an appropriate transfer fee.
If Lee Tae-seok moves to the German Bundesliga, he would become another Korean national team wingback to play in major European leagues, following Jens Castrof, who has already established himself as a starter at Borussia Mönchengladbach.
Another defensive resource, Seol Young-woo (Red Star Belgrade), has also recently been linked with a transfer to Bundesliga club Eintracht Frankfurt due to his consistent performances for his current team.
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*This content was translated by AI.
