The BBC reports that Tottenham forward Mathys Tel is pushing for a loan move this January. He wants to get back his form to secure a spot in France’s World Cup squad. Spurs turned his initial loan from Bayern Munich into a permanent £30m deal last summer, but the 20-year-old is finding it hard to get going under manager Thomas Frank.
Mathys Tel’s January Dilemma at Tottenham
Tel first arrived for a six-month stint back when Ange Postecoglou was in charge. Since then, he has only started five games this season, though he has managed to find the net three times. To make matters worse, the coaching staff left the striker out of the Champions League squad in September.
They only brought him back into the fold in December to cover for the injured Dominic Solanke. This stop-start season is hurting his international hopes. It’s a frustrating spot for Tel, who captains the France Under-21s with an impressive 12 goals in 20 games, but is still waiting for his first senior cap.
Still, the Spurs board are stuck in a tough position. They just saw fellow attacker Brennan Johnson head to Crystal Palace for £35m last week. Now, the club has to compare Tel’s personal goals against a bench that’s already looking thin. They can’t just green-light a loan without thinking it through.
What should Spurs do?
This creates a real headache for Tottenham. The club have to juggle a young player’s growth against the need for a deep squad. If Thomas Frank keeps overlooking Tel, the forward’s value and confidence will probably drop.
On top of that, selling Brennan Johnson has already left the attack short-handed. Letting Tel walk now without bringing someone else in is asking for trouble. The team simply need bodies to rotate if they want to stay competitive.
Besides, Tel’s scoring record shows he’s earned more minutes. His hunger to impress the French selectors could be exactly what sparks Tottenham’s frontline. Rather than shipping him out, Thomas Frank might be better off giving the youngster a real run in the first team.
Unless the scouts get a new forward right away, keeping Tel is the only move that makes sense for the long haul. Spurs just can’t afford to lose two attackers in one window while fighting on so many fronts.