Manchester United (Man U) is smiling after failing to sign French prospect Mathys Tel (20), who Tottenham acquired this winter.
'Man U News' reported on the 19th (Korea time) that it was fortunate that Man U failed to sign Tel from Bayern Munich to enhance their attacking options last January.
The race for Tel's signature was fierce. Tel was a promising forward with high expectations, attracting interest from numerous big clubs in Europe, including Chelsea, Arsenal, and Man U. Tottenham emerged as the winner.
Tottenham's chairman Daniel Levy and technical director Johan Lange sat at the negotiation table, and manager Ange Postecoglou personally persuaded Tel over the phone. There was also positive advice from former teammate Harry Kane (32, Bayern Munich).
Tel had to think until the last minute before signing to join Tottenham. Chelsea attempted to hijack the deal by going to the airport, and Man U showed an aggressive stance before negotiations progressed with Tottenham.
After many twists and turns, Tel will play on loan at Tottenham until the end of this season. If Tottenham pays a transfer fee of £46 million (approximately 86.7 billion won) to Bayern Munich this summer, they can secure a six-year contract. However, this option requires Tel's consent.
The reason Tottenham wants Tel so badly is to improve the finishing ability of their attack and to replace Son Heung-min, who is moving toward his mid-30s. If Tel settles in, he can resolve all these issues at once.
However, Tel still appears to need time to adjust. He has played in a total of 7 matches but has managed to score only once. He started 4 matches in the Premier League but did not score. At least, it is fortunate that he scored his debut goal in the 32nd round of the FA Cup.
Some experts and fans have claimed that Tel is struggling to fully adapt to the Premier League, meaning he is still at the stage of being a prospect rather than an immediate contributor.
Tel is also receiving evaluations that he lacks the confidence to solve problems on his own and isn't creating decisive opportunities for his teammates. As he seems to lack effectiveness in front of the goal, he may need more time to adjust.
The media noted that "Tel has the qualities to grow into a top-level forward, but he is not yet refined enough to thrive as a starter for a strong team in the Premier League."
They added that "Tel could be a useful player who can provide an impact as a substitute, but Man U needed a reliable forward who could be included in the starting 11," expressing relief that Man U did not sign Tel.
It also emphasized that relatively quiet Man U forward Rasmus Hojlund has shown signs of revival, providing an assist in the 4-1 victory against Real Sociedad and scoring in the away league match against Leicester City, which they won 3-0.
Of course, the season is not over yet, and Tel could explode with goals as he awakens. If that happens, Man U might face a counterattack. They might even try to change Tel's mind and derail Tottenham's plans for a full transfer.
[OSEN]