EXCLUSIVE: Tottenham transfer update after Mathys Tel conversation with Roberto De Zerbi amid Savinho talks
Exclusive - One Tottenham attacker has been the subject of transfer speculation as the club look to add more option up top for Roberto De Zerbi
Roberto De Zerbi has told Mathys Tel that he will be counting on him next season as a Tottenham player despite transfer links for the Frenchman, football.london understands.
With Spurs trying to get a deal done for Manchester City winger Savinho this summer after attempting to prise away the Brazilian in the winter window, Tel's future at the north London club looked to be unclear with links to Premier League sides such as Bournemouth and others across Europe.
However, football.london understands that before Tel departed on his summer holidays the 21-year-old had a conversation with De Zerbi about his future in which the Italian made it clear that he would be counting on him next season and that he had no intention of allowing him to leave the club.
Tel played a big part in De Zerbi's team in the final weeks of the campaign with an assist against Aston Villa and a goal against Leeds United and the former Bayern Munich attacker was one of Spurs' brighter attackers as they remained in the Premier League by just two points.
It's also worth noting that when it comes to Tottenham's left side, De Zerbi will be without both Wilson Odobert and Xavi Simons until the turn of the year with anterior cruciate ligament injuries. So even if the Lilywhites can secure a deal for Savinho then the Brazilian and Tel would be the main options on the left unless someone else came in, while it remains to be seen when Mohammed Kudus and Dejan Kulusevski can return on the right.
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Both Tel and Savinho can play on either flank and there is also the talented 18-year-old Mikey Moore for De Zerbi to make a decision on. The Spurs academy product won the Scottish Premiership Young Player of the Year award last season after an impressive loan at Rangers.
After Tel scored that excellent goal against Leeds but then gave away a penalty not long after, De Zerbi spoke about the France U21 international in the days after.
"A great reaction [since]. He is a mature guy. Maybe more outside of the pitch than on the pitch because he is not playing so many games in his career, but he has big potential," he said. "He is a lovely guy, he is a positive guy and he has strong character. I think the future he can play better and better and he can become a great player for us."