Some signings don’t work out the way anyone planned.
The loan goes well. The permanent deal gets done. And then the minutes dry up.
That’s exactly the situation Mathys Tel finds himself in at Tottenham Hotspur.
Brilliant in flashes. Peripheral far too often.
And now, a summer away is looking increasingly likely.
Bournemouth set to sign frustrated Tottenham attacker Mathys Tel in shock summer move
According to TEAMtalk, Mathys Tel’s future at Spurs remains open, with sources confirming that a shock move to Bournemouth is possible for the 21-year-old, who is frustrated with his limited role and is actively seeking regular first-team football.
Tel joined Spurs permanently from Bayern Munich last summer for an initial fee of around £30 million.
His loan spell in the second half of the 2024-25 season had been the catalyst.
A run of vital goals that helped Tottenham avoid relegation and convinced the club to make the move permanent.
But this season has been a different story.
And the squad has been reshaped significantly this summer.
With Spurs targeting reinforcements in attack, Tel’s pathway to consistent minutes has narrowed further.
He wants a fresh start somewhere that guarantees him the platform to develop at 21.
Bournemouth are that place.
Marco Rose’s side, preparing for their first season without Andoni Iraola, are rebuilding with purpose.
And a player of Tel’s ability would be a significant statement of intent on the south coast.
The prospect of regular starts is the key selling point.
Tottenham’s preference is to keep him.
De Zerbi values Tel’s versatility and sees him as part of the long-term project, with his contract running until 2031.
But a loan with an option to buy or a straight sale in the £30-40 million range has been discussed internally.
The risk of holding onto a frustrated player who isn’t playing is clear.
You either find a way to use him, or you risk losing him for less than his worth further down the line.
Tel is too good to waste.
The question is whether Spurs can offer him the minutes to show it.
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