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Published February 4, 2025 8:40am Updated February 4, 2025 8:40am
Manchester United passed up the chance to sign Mathys Tel ahead of Tottenham as they considered the deal too expensive, according to reports.
Tel initially rejected a move to Tottenham last Friday after Spurs agreed a €60 million (£50.2m) deal with Bayern Munich.
However, the 19-year-old had a change of heart and ended up joining Spurs on loan on the final day of the January transfer window.
Spurs were also able to include an option to buy Tel this summer for €55m (£45.7m) as part of their agreement with Bayern.
United had held talks to sign Tel in the closing stages of the window but The Telegraph report that the club considered Bayern’s demand for a £5m loan fee to be an ‘expensive risk’ for a player who is ‘largely unproven’.
Tel, who joined Bayern in a €28.5m (£24.4m) deal from Rennes in July 2022, has started just three games for the Bundesliga leaders this season.
Gary Neville has backed Tel to make an impact at Spurs, with Ange Postecoglou’s side still in with a chance of winning the Europa League, the FA Cup and the Carabao Cup this season.
‘Tottenham are a huge draw, the stadium and the training ground and the manager with his style of football. It’s a thrilling style that creates chances,’ Neville told Sky Sports News.
‘I’m glad Tel is going there after flirting with a couple of other clubs. Tel will improve Spurs.
‘They have a big couple of weeks coming up. Sometimes players like the idea of playing for a club but the important thing is to play football. That’s what Tottenham can provide him.
‘They are an amazing football club with an amazing fanbase and they have some great games coming up that he can contribute in.’
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