Tottenham may have found a potential route out for Mathys Tel. Reports from Portugal are now being backed up and expanded upon by fresh information emerging from Brazil.
Mathys Tel only joined Tottenham permanently from Bayern Munich this year. However, speculation over his future has quickly gathered pace after a difficult spell in north London.
The story originated in Portugal through Branco Insider, one of the country’s transfer aggregators. It was later confirmed and expanded by journalist João Van Boysen, who has contacts within Portuguese football.
Porto emerge as strongest option
The reports noted that the French forward had been offered to Porto. According to their information, the 21-year-old is valued at around €30m (£26m). Any deal would likely take the form of a loan with an option to buy.
He adds that Tel is keen to leave Spurs this summer. The Portuguese giants are currently emerging as the leading candidate for his signature.
While Porto are currently seen as the main contender, Van Boysen states they are not alone. French side Lille, Bundesliga outfit Eintracht Frankfurt and Premier League club Bournemouth have all made enquiries about the attacker in recent weeks.
A loan with an option to buy would allow Porto to avoid committing a large transfer fee immediately. It would also give Tel the chance to rebuild his value through regular football.
What happens next
For Tottenham, a temporary exit could make sense if Roberto De Zerbi does not see Tel as an immediate starter next season.
The France youth international remains well regarded despite an inconsistent period in England. Before arriving at Spurs, he was considered one of Bayern Munich’s most exciting young attacking talents.
Porto have often provided a platform for young players to relaunch their careers and secure bigger moves later. That could appeal to Tel if his priority is guaranteed minutes.
The interesting aspect is that the story now appears to have travelled in the opposite direction to many transfer rumours. Now Porto’s interest is seemingly becoming more concrete as the summer window approaches.
