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.”

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.”

Mikel Arteta has urged his Arsenal squad to regroup and refocus during their upcoming warm-weather training camp in Dubai, following their disappointing Carabao Cup semifinal loss to Newcastle United. The Gunners must now shift their attention toward ending the season on a high note with silverware still up for grabs.

Arsenal fell to a 2-0 defeat at St. James’ Park on Wednesday, with goals from Jacob Murphy and Anthony Gordon sealing Newcastle’s place in the final. The Magpies secured a dominant 4-0 aggregate victory and will now prepare for a Wembley showdown against either Liverpool or Tottenham Hotspur on March 16.

While Newcastle aims to end a 56-year wait for a major trophy, Arsenal now has a 10-day break before their next fixture. The team will depart for Dubai on Thursday, hoping to recover after a grueling run of 12 matches in just 41 days.

“This one hurts, no doubt about it,” Arteta admitted. “We had high expectations and knew the challenge ahead after the first-leg result. Unfortunately, there’s nothing more we can do now. What mattered was our performance on the pitch just moments ago. Now, we need to move forward, recharge in Dubai, and push for the trophies still within our reach.”

Injury Concern for Martinelli

Arteta also provided an update on Gabriel Martinelli, who was forced off in the first half with a suspected hamstring injury. The Brazilian winger was substituted after 37 minutes, raising concerns about his availability for upcoming fixtures.

“He felt discomfort, likely in his hamstring, and wasn’t in a condition to continue,” Arteta explained. “We’ll conduct an MRI scan on Thursday to determine the extent of the injury.”

Isak Shines as Newcastle Eyes Glory

Newcastle United captain Bruno Guimarães heaped praise on Alexander Isak, labeling the Swedish forward as “the best striker around” following his standout performances in the semifinal tie. Isak netted both goals in Newcastle’s 2-0 first-leg victory and was a key figure once again in Wednesday’s second leg.

Early in the match, Isak had a goal ruled out for offside but later played a crucial role in Murphy’s opener. The striker skillfully maneuvered past Arsenal defender William Saliba, combining well with Gordon before unleashing a powerful shot that struck the post and fell perfectly for Murphy to convert.

“For me, he’s the best forward out there right now,” Guimarães said. “No one is performing at his level. We’re fortunate to have him, and I hope he keeps delivering.”

Newcastle’s Wembley Dream

Newcastle’s dominant aggregate win sends them to the Carabao Cup final for the second time in three seasons. The Magpies are eager to end their long-standing trophy drought, which dates back to 1969.

“Lifting a trophy would be an incredible moment, something to etch my name in the club’s history,” Guimarães said, reflecting on the opportunity to go a step further than last year’s final defeat to Manchester United. “It would be even more special in my first season as captain.”

Head coach Eddie Howe also emphasized Newcastle’s growing belief and consistency on the big stage.

“Reaching Wembley last time was amazing, maybe even unexpected,” Howe admitted. “But we need to make this a regular occurrence. This time, we’re here on merit. Our path hasn’t been easy; we’ve beaten four Premier League sides, so we’ve earned our place.”

Newcastle now awaits the winner of the Liverpool vs. Tottenham clash, with Spurs holding a 1-0 advantage ahead of Thursday’s decisive second leg at Anfield.