The Premier League transfer race for Mathys Tel has taken a dramatic twist after the Bayern Munich star rejected a £50 million move to Tottenham, leaving clubs like Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, and Aston Villa back in contention for his signature.
Tel, 19, has been on the radar of several English clubs, with Spurs initially appearing to have secured the deal. However, the French forward reportedly turned down the move at the last minute, throwing the race wide open again.
With United struggling for goals under Ruben Amorim, they could be tempted to make a move, especially with Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee failing to deliver and Marcus Rashford’s future uncertain.
Former United defender Rio Ferdinand has praised Tel’s talent but remains skeptical about whether the club should prioritize signing another young forward. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ferdinand described Tel as a “mad talent” and a versatile attacker who has impressed at Bayern but hasn’t been given enough opportunities.
“I’ve seen him up close, coming on in a Champions League game and scoring a great goal,” Ferdinand said. “He’s quick, skillful, and can play different roles up front. But United need experience in that position. Hojlund and Zirkzee are already young talents, and they need an established striker to guide them.”
Ferdinand also pointed out that United recently signed Arsenal’s highly-rated prospect Chido Obi Martin, raising concerns about blocking his path to the first team. If Tel were to arrive, it could mean one of United’s existing strikers moving on.
Meanwhile, United is on the verge of making its first major transfer under Amorim, with Lecce’s Patrick Dorgu set to join. They have also agreed on a summer deal for Geovany Quenda.
However, with the club’s Premier League form under scrutiny, their immediate priority will be getting results—starting with their upcoming clash against Crystal Palace.