You will hear the phrase ‘market opportunities’ over the next few days as we approach Monday’s transfer deadline.
And as ‘market opportunities’ go, they don’t get more appealing than Bayern Munich forward Mathys Tel.
The fact Tottenham, Chelsea, Manchester United, Aston Villa and Arsenal all carry varying degrees of interest in the hotshot ahead of next week’s deadline shows just how hot a property he is.
At 19, his ceiling on the pitch and the balance sheet is extremely high. He is extremely versatile, being able to play anywhere across the front line, and at 6ft he has a clear physical presence which will continue to flourish as he exits his teenage years.
He has so many boxes ticked, which is exactly Bayern secured a major coup in signing him from Rennes in 2022. In his native France, the forward was likened to Kylian Mbappe and Karim Benzema, who have a combined 860 career goals for club and country. No pressure then.
Life at the Allianz Arena hasn’t necessarily gone according to plan, however. His first-team opportunities in Bavaria have been severely limited by an extravagant forward line that boasts Harry Kane, Kingsley Coman, Jamal Musiala, Leroy Sane, Michael Olise, Serge Gnabry and Thomas Muller.
19-year-old Bayern starlet Mathys Tel is one of the hottest properties in European football
But for all his promise Tel has yet to score this season with his opportunities extremely limited
In his 14 appearances so far this season, Tel is yet to score. The numbers don’t match the talent. But the fact England’s elite are after the youngster tells you all you need to know.
Sources close to the situation say Tel is waiting to see if Manchester United or Arsenal formalise their interest in his services before making a final decision on his destination.
As things stand, Tottenham and Chelsea have the firmest interest from clubs in the Premier League, but United, Villa or Arsenal are not completely ruling out an approach before the deadline.
For Tel, playing regular football is his biggest priority as he considers his options. He has made just nine starts for Bayern since arriving from Rennes in 2022; so securing greater senior opportunities is a must this month.
It’s hard to see Arsenal guaranteeing him regular minutes given the number of options they have out wide and desperate need for a world-class centre forward, while Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has attacking options coming out of his ears.
At Tottenham, you’d imagine Tel will have a stronger chance of playing under Ange Postecoglou. Spurs technical director Johan Lange flew out of London on Wednesday afternoon to hold talks over an unspecified deal. Indications are that the Dane was in Munich in hope of tying up a deal for Tel.
Tottenham’s hopes may now rest on whether United, Villa or Arsenal formalise their interest in Tel and what level of assurances either club would be willing to provide in terms of playing opportunities.
Chelsea, too, are continuing with their efforts to sign Tel this month, with Bayern ready to let him go.
Arsenal, Man United, Chelsea, Tottenham and Aston Villa have all shown interest in Tel (right)
The likes of Harry Kane, Michael Olise and Jamal Musiala are ahead of Tel in the Bayern team
Tel appeared to say goodbye to the Bayern fans on Wednesday after their 3-1 victory in Europe
Tel appeared to wave goodbye to Bayern fans on Wednesday night after their 3-1 Champions League win over Slovan Bratislava, climbing over the advertising hoardings to hand his training jacket to the home fans and shake hands with them.
‘We spoke in December, and Mathys said he wanted to assert himself,’ explained Bayern sporting director Max Eberl.
‘Now he has said he would like to leave. Now we have to consider whether we will do it and what we will do.’
Whether any move is on a permanent or temporary basis remains to be seen. But the race to land Tel is on gearing up to be the most competitive battle in the final hours of the January window.
No return likely for revered Pochettino
The prospect of an emotional return for Mauricio Pochettino to Tottenham in the event of Ange Postecoglou leaving is very unlikely.
The Argentine is still revered by sections of the fanbase for the work he did in north London including leading them to the 2019 Champions League final, and there have been suggestions Spurs could turn to their ex-boss if Postecoglou departs.
But Pochettino is fully committed to his role as USA head coach ahead of next year’s World Cup and wants to fulfil his ambition of taking the nation into their home tournament.
It is understood certain clauses in Pochettino’s deal with US Soccer would also create major difficulties in any return to Spurs prior to World Cup 2026.
Mauricio Pochettino led Spurs to the 2019 Champions League final and second-place Premier League finish in 2017
But Pochettino is fully committed to his role as USA head coach ahead of next year’s World Cup
Spurs are sticking with Postecoglou despite their poor run of form, though it remains to be seen if their stance changes if results don’t improve.
Adeus, Rafa
Rafa Benitez has ruled himself out of the running for the Botafogo head coach vacancy.
Mail Sport revealed this week that the Spaniard was down to the final two candidates for the job having impressed chiefs at the Brazilian club during initial talks.
The former Liverpool, Chelsea and Everton head coach has been out of work since leaving Celta Vigo in March last year.
However, Benitez has now informed Botafogo, who are the reigning Brazilian and South American champions, that he does not want to be considered for the position after heart-to-heart talks with his family.
Botafogo are owned by Crystal Palace major shareholder John Textor, who is said to have been impressed by Benitez during talks with the Spaniard.
But the club are now looking elsewhere for Artur Jorge’s replacement.
Rafa Benitez has been out of work since March last year after being sacked by Celta Vigo
Botafogo won the Copa Libertadores, South America’s Champions League, in December
Palace stymied by another severe injury
Crystal Palace midfielder Cheick Doucoure is out for the rest of the season after suffering another serious injury.
The 25-year-old Malian is in a race against time to be fit for the start of pre-season in the summer after being hit by a meniscus injury, which will rule him out for up to six months.
It is the second major injury in as many seasons for one of Palace’s key men, after he missed the entire second half of last season with an achilles issue.
The news arrives as a further injury blow to head coach Oliver Glasner, who has also lost defender Chadi Riad to an ACL injury.
Palace are set to enter the market for a new centre back this week, though their midfield concerns have been eased by Adam Wharton’s return to training following a long-lay off following complications after his groin surgery.
Palace midfielder Cheick Doucoure’s injury will be a huge blow to manager Oliver Glasner
Graham Potter’s fitness boost in defence
Jean-Clair Todibo is set to hand West Ham a fitness boost with the centre back closing in on a return to training.
The France international has been missing for over three weeks due to an ankle injury. But he is expected to return to return to training on the grass in the coming days as nears a playing return.
It is understood, if all goes according to plan, Todibo is targeting the game against Brentford on February 15 as his potential comeback date.
Jean-Clair Todibo (left) has missed three weeks with an ankle injury but is nearing a return
New Palace investors eye move into cricket
Sportsbank, the investment vehicle who have entered into an exclusivity agreement to take part-control at Crystal Palace, could make a move into domestic cricket.
The south London-based group are finalising their move to invest £230million into American businessman John Textor’s Eagle Holdings Limited that owns 45 percent of the south London club.
And Mail Sport has learned that Sportsbank representatives have been alerted to potential future opportunities to invest into one of the domestic cricket franchises.
Sportsbank’s primary focus is on completing their part-takeover at Palace, which should be completed in a matter of weeks.
Cherries look to bolster their attacking ranks
Bournemouth want to secure a loan deal for a new striker before next week’s transfer deadline, with first-choice Evanilson still around five weeks away from being available, and back-up centre forward Enes Unal out long-term with a serious knee injury.
Andoni Iraola wants to add a centre forward to his ranks before Monday’s deadline – but the club would prefer to sign a new striker on loan with an option of a permanent deal rather than committing long-term to any arrival.
It is understood that Bournemouth have been alerted to the availability of Leicester forward Patson Daka, but the south coast club are keeping their options open.
Evanilson underwent surgery on a broken foot at the start of the month and is continuing with his recovery.
Striker Evanilson’s injury has been a major blow for high-flying Bournemouth as they look to compete for places in Europe
Gunners keep tabs on teenage ‘keeping talent
Arsenal are monitoring Adana Demispor’s 16-year-old goalkeeper Deniz Donmezer.
Despite signing Tommy Setford, 18, from Ajax last summer, the emergence of Donmezer has alerted all of European football’s top teams monitoring his future.
Despite his age, the teenager shot-stopper has already 17 first-team appearances for Adana and is emerging as a hot property on the continent.
Reports in Turkey this week have indicated that Arsenal have already made a offer for Donmezer.
‘Arsenal have sent an official offer of €3m (£2.5million),’ said former Adana vice-president Metin Korkmaz said this week. ‘According to this offer, they will pay the money, but Deniz will play with us on loan for a year and a half. Then he would join Arsenal.’
Arsenal have David Raya firmly installed as their No 1, but 35-year-old back-up Neto is only on loan from Bournemouth until the end of the season and had a poor outing on his debut in Girona on Wednesday.
The other goalkeepers in their ranks are Setford, Karl Hein, who already has 36 caps for Estonia at the age of 22 and is on loan at Real Valladolid, and Jack Porter, who made his debut at just 16 in the League Cup win over Bolton in September.
