Tottenham Hotspur face a fresh squad dilemma this January, with young winger Mathys Tel reportedly considering a loan departure from the club. The 19-year-old, whose move from Bayern Munich was made permanent last summer, is attracting interest from several clubs, including French side Paris FC.
Injury Crisis Fuels Exit Speculation
The news comes at a difficult time for head coach Thomas Frank. Spurs are languishing in the bottom half of the Premier League table and have been eliminated from both the Carabao Cup and FA Cup. Frank's attacking options have been severely depleted by a series of injuries.
Mohammed Kudus is ruled out until April with a medium-term injury, while Richarlison recently picked up a hamstring problem. Dejan Kulusevski remains sidelined and is weeks from a return. The earlier January sale of Brennan Johnson to Nottingham Forest has further stretched resources, a decision that now appears premature.
Tel's Frustration and World Cup Ambition
Against this backdrop of squad shortage, Mathys Tel's potential departure is a surprising development. The French youth international has made 19 appearances across all competitions this season, but only five of those have been Premier League starts. He was also omitted from Tottenham's Champions League squad for the group stage.
Renowned transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano reported the situation, stating: "Understand Paris FC are among clubs keen on signing Mathys Tel on loan this month, several approaches already. Tottenham insist they want Tel to stay, Mathys wants to play regularly as dreams of World Cup call."
Aiming for a spot in the France squad for the 2026 World Cup is a bold ambition for the teenager, given the fierce competition for places. However, regular first-team football, potentially in his home country, could provide a clearer pathway to catching the eye of national team selectors before the summer.
A Crucial Decision for Player and Club
The situation presents a complex calculation for both Tel and Tottenham. While Paris FC have shown interest, they currently sit just four points above the Ligue 1 relegation zone, which may not be the ideal platform for a player seeking to impress.
Conversely, Spurs' current injury crisis could ironically offer Tel the game time he craves. Thomas Frank may be able to promise the winger a more prominent role in the coming months, especially with key attackers sidelined until at least Easter. Even if Tottenham secure a new signing in the transfer window, their options in wide areas remain thin.
The club's insistence, as reported, is on keeping Tel. The coming days will reveal whether the promise of immediate minutes in North London is enough to convince him to stay, or if the lure of a guaranteed starting role elsewhere proves too strong to resist.
