Tottenham Hotspur secured the signing of France U21 star Mathys Tel, beating out competition from Manchester United and Arsenal. Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou has made it clear that Tel will remain at the club beyond his loan spell, with a £45 million permanent deal set for the summer.
Postecoglou played a key role in convincing the Bayern Munich youngster to join Spurs, personally speaking to him over the phone to finalize the move. “I didn’t bring him here just for six months,” the Australian coach stated. “He’ll be a Tottenham player next season.”
Tel, who initially hesitated due to interest from Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester United, ultimately agreed to an £8 million loan deal on transfer deadline day. The 19-year-old is now preparing to make his debut in Tottenham’s Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against Liverpool at Anfield on Thursday.
Reports indicate that Tel is eager for Spurs to activate their purchase option, securing a six-year contract in the summer. Postecoglou reiterated his confidence in the player, saying, “He’ll prove himself in the next six months. He’s fully committed to being here.”
The Spurs manager revealed that he spent hours on calls and messages with Tel, ensuring the youngster felt connected to the project at Tottenham. “I felt that if I kept him on the phone long enough, I would wear him down!” he joked. “But really, he wanted to hear what I had to say, and there was a strong connection. He made a very thoughtful decision.”
Tel is a versatile forward who can operate as a No. 9 or out wide. Postecoglou drew comparisons to another young talent in the squad, saying, “Archie Gray wanted to be a central midfielder, so who knows where Mathys will end up? He has great pace, can take players on, and knows how to score goals.”
Tottenham had also shown interest in French striker Randal Kolo Muani during the January transfer window, but the PSG forward opted to join Juventus instead. Reflecting on transfers, Postecoglou admitted, “Not every move works out, and I don’t have a 100 percent success rate, but we’re building something strong here.”
Despite an injury-hit squad, Spurs managed to bring in four new signings during the window. Former Lens defender Kevin Danso is expected to start against Liverpool, while Micky van de Ven and Cristiano Romero remain sidelined. With Radu Dragusin ruled out for the rest of the season, Postecoglou emphasized careful management of returning players. “We’re keeping them in training, making sure they’re fully fit before risking any setbacks,” he said.
Tottenham carries a 1-0 lead into Anfield as they chase their first trophy since the 2008 League Cup. “We’ve beaten both Manchester clubs to get here, and now we’ve got another big test ahead of us,” Postecoglou added. “A win would be huge, and we’ve earned the right to make a statement.”
