Manchester United have officially “contacted” Bayern Munich over a loan move for Mathys Tel, Sky Sports Germany reveals.
Florian Plettenberg (Sky Sports DE) states the Red Devils have approached Bayern to sign the 19-year-old forward before the February 3 deadline, but are “interested in a loan deal” rather than a transfer.
🚨🔴 Excl | Understand that Manchester United have contacted FC Bayern regarding Mathys #Tel! #MUFC are interested in a loan deal and hope to buy some time regarding Tel since departures are needed (Garnacho/Rashford).
ManUtd are definitely in the race, as exclusively revealed… pic.twitter.com/EAo6Hlm52o
— Florian Plettenberg (@Plettigoal) January 31, 2025
Tweet: “Understand that Manchester United have contacted FC Bayern regarding Mathys #Tel!
#MUFC are interested in a loan deal and hope to buy some time regarding Tel since departures are needed (Garnacho/Rashford).
ManUtd are definitely in the race, as exclusively revealed on Tuesday. ManUtd and Bayern feeling that Tel is currently leaning towards a loan move, which is why he hasn’t committed to Tottenham yet. #COYS pushing for a decision as Tel is their desired target.
Max Eberl: ‘Whether it will be a loan or a sale, we will discuss it in the coming days and hours.’”
The financial situation at Old Trafford is limited this month due to the Premier League’s profits and sustainability rules (PSR). This leaves United with little wiggle room to sign players, particularly after a deal was agreed earlier this week for 20-year-old wing-back Patrick Dorgu from Lecce.
However, Tel is a unique proposition – a player deemed a “perfect market opportunity” amongst the executive branch at Old Trafford.
The French starlet is one of the premier attacking talents in Europe, having joined Bayern from Rennes for £25 million as a 17-year-old – a reflection of his immense potential. He is also a versatile forward, capable of playing on either wing or up front.
United hold a long-standing interest in Tel with the Reds believed to have made an initial enquiry last year to sign the forward. This was rebuffed, however.
But Tel’s growing frustration with a lack of first-team opportunities under Bayern manager Vincent Kompany has led the 19-year-old to push for an exit from the Allianz Arena in the final week of the winter window.
Plettenberg states the German club feel Tel is “currently leaning towards a loan move”, explaining why he “hasn’t committed to Tottenham yet”. The London club reached a £50 million agreement with Bayern yesterday over a permanent transfer, but Tel has yet to accept the proposal.
United’s finances could likely stretch to a loan, but not a permanent transfer. This could then include a buy clause which the club would be in a far stronger position come the summer to fulfil.
A report relayed by The Peoples Person revealed the French starlet is “waiting” for an approach from United and prefers a switch to Old Trafford over other options. And now, as Plettenberg reveals, the proposal from Manchester has arrived in Munich.
If Tel signals his intention to accept the offer, it would constitute a significant coup for INEOS in their second transfer window at the helm at the Theatre of Dreams – without even having to pay a transfer fee.
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Darragh Fox
Darragh is a writer for The Peoples Person who spent three years as a history graduate slowly realising football was by far the most interesting thing to write about.
