'It’s tough'- Tottenham could regret sanctioning summer deal for French ace; strength in depth could prove key

Originally posted on To The Lane And Back
By Aaryan Choksi | Last updated Sep 9, 2025 2:29 PM ET

Did Tottenham rush to land Mathys Tel on a permanent transfer or does he add valuable depth in attack?

Tottenham forward Mathys Tel has not got going at N17 ever since he joined the Lilywhites in January. The Frenchman failed to make an impact under Ange Postecoglou last season, despite getting enough game time to prove his worth. Yet, the North Londoners chose to gamble on Tel in the summer, and opted to sign the talented forward to a permanent deal.

However, it is fair to say that the 20-year-old has failed to impress Thomas Frank as well. The ex-Bayern Munich starlet has not been given a fair chance to prove his worth under the Danish tactician. To make matters worse, Tel has now been excluded from the Champions League squad as well for this season.

This might just prove to be a catastrophic blow for his confidence, leaving many fans to wonder what suddenly went wrong for the Frenchman. There is no doubt that Mathys Tel has immense talent, but he has just not played enough for the Lilywhites this season. The 20-year-old has been on the bench for all three games in the Premier League, with Brennan Johnson getting the nod over him on the left-flank.

Tottenham’s decision to sign Mathys Tel permanently needs to be looked at

Excluding Mathys Tel from the Champions League squad is a clear indication from Thomas Frank that the prolific forward has fallen down the pecking order at N17. And the arrival of Randal Kolo Muani and Xavi Simons will not help his cause either, as both players thrive in the position that Tel favours.

Taking notice of that, John Wenham has raised some concerns about Spurs’ decision to sign Tel permanently. Speaking to Tottenham News, Wenham said,

“He’s only had 20 minutes in the first three league games from the bench. So it’s tough for Tel at the moment. He’ll have to just keep working hard and hope that when injuries do crop up, he’ll get opportunities in the Premier League and the Carabao Cup, between now and when those Champions League squads can be tweaked in January.”

The Lilywhite Rose owner added,

“Then it goes to the bigger question of, I bet Tottenham, in hindsight, regret not just getting him on loan for a second season rather than purchasing him outright.”

John Wenham urges Mathys Tel to keep working hard and wait for an opportunity to prove his worth after not featuring enough in the first three Premier League games of the season. The Lilywhite Rose owner believes that the 20-year-old would have a chance of making the Champions League squad in January if he manages to impress Thomas Frank. However, Wenham has still questioned Spurs’ decision to sign Tel permanently, hinting that a loan move would have been a sensible option.

Fans will hope that Mathys Tel gets enough game time in the Premier League and cup competitions to prove his worth to Thomas Frank. If that does not happen, then it is better for the Lilywhites to loan him out in January and not hinder his development. Sitting on the bench is something that will not be ideal for the Frenchman. So, a solution is needed quickly before it starts getting sour.

This article first appeared on To The Lane And Back and was syndicated with permission.

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