Spurs’ Postecoglou Confident Mathys Tel Will Stay Beyond Loan

LONDON, England — Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou expressed confidence that Mathys Tel will remain at the club beyond his current loan spell from Bayern Munich. The 19-year-old forward joined Spurs on Transfer Deadline Day with a £45 million option to buy, which, if triggered, would see him sign a six-year deal.

“He will play a significant part in our end to the season for sure and beyond,” Postecoglou said ahead of Thursday’s Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against Liverpool, live on Sky Sports. “He wants to make an impact, and I expect him to do that. He will be a Tottenham player. I didn’t bring him here for six months.”

Tel initially rejected the move to Tottenham before reversing his decision after a lengthy conversation with Postecoglou. The manager emphasized that his pitch to the young forward was rooted in honesty and belief in the club’s project. “There is something to be said for honesty and integrity,” Postecoglou said. “I think I have a pretty compelling story to tell because I speak from a strong conviction that what I am saying will come to fruition.”

The French forward, who could make his debut against Liverpool, adds versatility to Spurs’ injury-plagued squad. With key players like Dominic Solanke, Wilson Odobert, Brennan Johnson, and Timo Werner sidelined, Tel is expected to fill multiple roles, including as a striker and winger. “He’s got the attributes to play as a No. 9 for sure. He’s played wide well for sure,” Postecoglou said. “At the moment, we’re probably going to need him in all those areas.”

Tel’s journey to Tottenham began at Rennes‘ academy, where he emerged as one of France’s most promising young talents. He became the youngest player to appear in a professional match for Rennes at 16 years and 110 days old, breaking a record previously held by Eduardo Camavinga. Tel later captained France to victory at the UEFA European Under-17 Championship in 2022.

Former Spurs striker Harry Kane, who played alongside Tel at Bayern Munich, praised the youngster’s potential. “It’s a great move for both parties,” Kane told Spurs’ official website. “Mathys is a great guy and really hardworking. For his potential, it’s important for him to get some minutes under his belt and some regular game time.”

Postecoglou also confirmed that new signing Kevin Danso is available for selection against Liverpool, but Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero will miss the match due to injury concerns. “With Micky and Romero, I just feel we need to be more conservative with them,” the manager said. “We’ll keep them ticking over in training and make sure they are ready and don’t have any setbacks.”

As Tottenham prepares for a crucial clash against Liverpool, Tel’s arrival offers a glimmer of hope for a squad grappling with injuries and a demanding schedule. Whether he can make an immediate impact remains to be seen, but Postecoglou’s confidence in the young forward suggests he could play a pivotal role in Spurs’ season.