Ange Postecoglou made it perfectly clear in February that he had not brought Mathys Tel to Tottenham for just six months. In need of a new attacking player in the January transfer window and having initially appeared to have missed out on the Frenchman, there was a late twist a matter of hours before the deadline with the 20-year-old agreeing to join Spurs on loan from Bayern Munich.
The agreement between both clubs contained an option for Tottenham to buy the versatile forward for £45.7million in the summer window. It was reported at the time that Tel had also agreed on a six-year contract if the move was to become permanent.
Quite whether that six-year contract does come to fruition now remains to be seen following Postecoglou's Tottenham exit and the likely arrival of Thomas Frank in his place. Already facing a big call over whether to activate the option, try to sign him for a reduced fee, negotiate another loan deal or move away from the deal altogether, Tel may no longer have a future in N17 after Daniel Levy decided to part with the Australian.
The ex-Rennes man featured regularly for the Lilywhites in the second half of the season and contributed with three goals and one assist in 20 games. He also ended his loan spell with a Europa League winners' medal in his possession after playing a part in their European journey.
Tottenham fans certainly didn't see the France Under-21 international at the very top of his game, instead seeing glimpses of his quality as he got used to Postecoglou's ways and life in the Premier League. Supporters would probably get a better idea of what Tel can offer the following season as he would have only benefitted from his four months in a Tottenham shirt.
Postecoglou was always aware of his qualities, explaining exactly why he wanted to talk to him and convince him to make the move to north London maybe amid some previous doubts. “It was sort of an exchange, conversation, messages, that lasted a couple of hours," said the Australian back in February
He then joked: “I felt that if I kept him on the phone long enough, I would wear him down. He was falling asleep by the end!
“I got a sense pretty early on that there was a connection there and he was hearing what he wanted to hear. It is a big decision. He is a 19-year-old man at a fantastic football club.
“They would have been quite happy to keep him there I am sure, but he also knew he needed to play. But not just play. Play where he is going to develop. I think it is a credit to him that, rather than just jump at what came at him, he was very thorough in the way he made his decision.”
Tel himself was asked about his chat with Postecoglou and he revealed why it was "positive" for him.
"I was in the barbers - one side was good and the other side was not really," explained the attacker. "He told me, 'Mathys, I think you are a good player for the team. You can bring some new energy, something special for the team. We need to win a lot of games.' This call was positive for me."
Tel was certainly lively in his Tottenham minutes but it didn't always translate into the goals and assists he wanted to bring to the team on a regular basis. It now remains to be seen if his Tottenham appearances will stop at 20 or there will be more to add next season and in the years ahead.
Postecoglou's exit may have changed things for the north London club in regards to the loan signing or they may want to press ahead and ensure he is still in N17 next season. With Frank in line to replace Postecoglou in the Spurs dugout, decisions over Tottenham's current squad and incoming transfers will all become clear in the weeks and months ahead.
For now, it probably is going to be a waiting game for Tel as well as Tottenham fans.