Bayern Munich forward Mathys Tel remains open to potential moves to Manchester United or Arsenal after turning down a transfer to Tottenham Hotspur.

Spurs had successfully negotiated a €60 million (£50.2m) agreement with Bayern, contingent on Tel’s approval. Club chairman Daniel Levy even traveled to Munich on Friday to present Tottenham’s proposal personally. However, the 19-year-old forward opted to decline the offer, informing Bayern that he preferred to stay unless another club stepped forward before Monday’s transfer deadline.

According to reports from RMC Sport, only Manchester United and Arsenal are still in contention for Tel’s signature, as both clubs have the potential to persuade him to leave Bayern before the window closes. Meanwhile, Chelsea and Aston Villa have reportedly withdrawn from the race.

Sky Germany has revealed that United have engaged in preliminary discussions with Bayern regarding Tel but have yet to submit a formal bid. Similarly, Arsenal has maintained interest in the French youngster since his €28.5 million (£24.4m) transfer from Rennes in July 2022 but has not taken any concrete steps to secure his services.

Chelsea previously expressed interest earlier this month, yet Tel is reportedly hesitant about joining due to the high level of competition within Enzo Maresca’s squad at Stamford Bridge.

The primary motivation behind Tel’s willingness to leave Bayern stems from limited playing opportunities, as he has started only three matches under Vincent Kompany this season.

Bayern Munich’s sporting director, Max Eberl, confirmed on Wednesday that Tel had initially decided to stay but has since reconsidered his stance.

“Mathys originally wanted to stay and prove himself,” Eberl explained. “Now, he has expressed that he is open to a move, and we have to assess our options. His playing time has been limited, which is understandable from his perspective. Given that we are at the end of January, this situation is more complex for everyone involved. We must determine the best course of action for Mathys and Bayern Munich.”

Chelsea are reportedly eyeing Borussia Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel as a potential signing, but they may face stiff competition from Manchester United.

Robert Sanchez’s role as Chelsea’s primary shot-stopper has been questioned in recent weeks due to several costly errors. While manager Enzo Maresca has publicly backed the Spanish goalkeeper, he has not provided assurances about Sanchez’s long-term future at Stamford Bridge.

If Chelsea decide to move on from Sanchez next season, they have internal options such as Filip Jorgensen—who joined from Villarreal last summer—and Djordje Petrovic, who has impressed during his loan stint at Strasbourg. Additionally, Belgian prospect Mike Penders is set to join the squad next season to increase competition in the goalkeeping department.

However, The Independent reports that Chelsea could instead opt to bolster their goalkeeping ranks by pursuing Dortmund’s Kobel. While a January move appears unlikely, the club is expected to push for a summer deal for the Swiss international, despite him being contracted to the Bundesliga side until 2028.

Chelsea will not have a free path to signing Kobel, as Manchester United have maintained long-standing interest in the 27-year-old and could also make a move. United are reportedly assessing their goalkeeping situation and may look to upgrade on Andre Onana, though financial constraints could impact their summer transfer plans.

Dortmund are believed to value Kobel between €70m-80m (£58m-66m), making a potential transfer a significant investment for either Premier League club.

Since joining Dortmund from Stuttgart in 2021, Kobel has made 143 appearances across all competitions and has twice been named in the Bundesliga Team of the Season.

Despite speculation about Onana’s future, former United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar has expressed confidence in the Cameroonian’s abilities. Speaking to Oddspedia, the Dutch legend backed Onana to establish himself at Old Trafford.

“I think it’s quite early to judge, but Andre [Onana] has a fantastic career ahead of him,” Van der Sar said. “He’s gaining more experience, and he possesses all the qualities a goalkeeper needs. I believe he will continue to improve over the next five to six years.”

Meanwhile, Manchester United are closing in on their first signing under new manager Ruben Amorim, as they finalize a deal to bring highly rated wing-back Patrick Dorgu from Lecce before the January transfer window closes.

Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has shed light on the reasoning behind Kobbie Mainoo’s advanced role in their Europa League triumph over FCSB, citing the young midfielder’s defensive challenges.

United continued their dominant European campaign under Amorim, securing their fourth consecutive victory with a 2-0 win over the Romanian side. This result guaranteed them a top-eight finish and a place in the tournament’s last 16.

The breakthrough came in the second half when Diogo Dalot capitalized on a well-delivered low cross from Mainoo, finishing smartly at the back post. Just minutes later, Mainoo himself found the net, latching onto an Alejandro Garnacho cross and slotting home with precision.

Previously deployed as one of the two central midfielders in Amorim’s preferred 3-4-2-1 setup, the 19-year-old was instead utilized in a more attacking midfield capacity during Thursday’s clash. This shift saw Bruno Fernandes drop deeper into midfield, allowing Mainoo to flourish further up the pitch.

Following the match, Amorim praised Mainoo’s performance, acknowledging that the positional change allowed him greater freedom on the field.

“Kobbie played very well in that position,” Amorim told TNT Sports. “He had more freedom and wasn’t constantly tasked with tracking back.”

Addressing the tactical adjustment further in his post-match press conference, the Portuguese manager explained that Mainoo’s defensive difficulties led to the shift.

“We needed to assess our players and find the right positions for them. Kobbie was struggling defensively in midfield,” Amorim stated. “As a No.10, he had more space and freedom to operate near the penalty area. It’s all part of the process of understanding where each player thrives.”

Assessing his team’s overall performance, Amorim was pleased with their control of the match but noted areas for improvement.

“We dominated possession and dictated the tempo. Of course, the opposition wasn’t at the level of a Premier League side, so we had more time to build our attacks,” he remarked. “We kept a clean sheet, created chances, but we need to be more clinical in front of goal. Rotation was necessary, and we successfully managed our schedule. Overall, it was a positive day for us.”

Mainoo’s performance also caught the attention of former United player Robbie Savage, who encouraged Amorim to keep utilizing him in an advanced midfield role.

“For me, Kobbie Mainoo is best suited as a No.10,” Savage shared on TNT Sports. “He thrives in tight spaces and has great composure on the ball. I don’t see him as a No.6 in this current United setup. The big question is whether he’s creative enough to be a permanent No.10 or defensively strong enough for a deeper role. I think he fits best in a midfield three, but since United doesn’t play that system, he should definitely be pushed further forward. He was outstanding tonight.”

With a quick turnaround, United now shift their focus to their upcoming Premier League fixture against Crystal Palace, set to take place just three days after their Europa League success.