Roberto De Zerbi is currently in the process of shaping his Tottenham Hotspur squad after arriving in north London late into last season to keep Spurs in the Premier League.
Tottenham narrowly avoided relegation to the Championship and have finished 17th in the Premier League in back-to-back seasons, something De Zerbi wants to leave in the past.
The Italian has already overseen a fast start to the club's recruitment, bringing in defenders Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi on free transfers from Liverpool and Bournemouth respectively. Additionally, star player Pedro Porro has signed a new five-year contract while the club are getting closer to sealing a deal to sign Brighton and Hove Albion centre-back Jan-Paul van Hecke.
Although the club are in need of new faces, Tottenham will also be looking to keep hold of any players De Zerbi sees as part of the future. The Spurs boss has reportedly already been on the phone to at least one.
De Zerbi blocks potential Mathys Tel exit
Mathys Tel is one of the players who appeared to have an uncertain future in north London, particularly amid Spurs' pursuit of Manchester City winger Savinho.
However, according to football.london, De Zerbi had a conversation with Tel before his off-season break to assure the 21-year-old that he is part of the Italian's plans at Tottenham and won't be leaving the club under his watch.
Tel has already been linked with Bournemouth and clubs across Europe but now looks to be staying put.
The French forward was an important player for De Zerbi in the final weeks of last season, registering an assist in the 2-1 win at Aston Villa before scoring in the 1-1 draw against Leeds United the following week.
His fortunes at Spurs have been mixed since his arrival from Bayern Munich, initially on loan before a permanent switch last summer, but has clearly shown De Zerbi enough to think he is worth having around.
Spurs need Mathys Tel
One of the biggest talking points regarding Tottenham's woeful season last term was the number of serious injuries that kept big-name players unavailable for extended periods.
Both Xavi Simons and Wilson Odobert aren't expected to be back fit until 2027 with respective anterior cruciate ligament injuries, meaning that there is still a gap in the forward line that needs to be filled.
Spurs may still complete a deal for Savinho, but that shouldn't dictate whether or not Tel has a future at the club. At 21, the Frenchman is still in the early stages of his career and has shown plenty of potential.
With a deal running until 2031, Tottenham could set a significant price tag for the forward but cashing in after just one year would be bad business.