Man Utd offered chance to realise Ratcliffe's 'next Mbappe' dream

Tom Weber

Updated: 20 Sep 2024 09:52 CDT
3 min read

Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Man Utd, 2023/24 — © IMAGO

Manchester United have been offered the chance to reignite their interest in Mathys Tel as he struggles for minutes under Vincent Kompany.

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Bayern Munich have been adamant that the French wonderkid is the future of the club. In the spring, the 19-year-old's contract was extended until 2029 amid rampant speculation over a potential exit.

After a red-hot start to the 2023/24 campaign, the striker eventually tailed off and found himself mostly on the outside looking in under Thomas Tuchel. The sacking of the German coach gave the youngster hope of a bigger role this season, but so far, this has not materialised.

A centre-forward by trade, Tel has often been shoehorned out onto the wing as it is simply impossible for him to supplant €100 million star striker Harry Kane and this has done him no favours.

Kane has started the season on fire, netting four goals against Dinamo Zagreb earlier this week, and new Bayern boss Vincent Kompany has rarely utilised Tel as a result.

Tel to leave in January?

Tel himself has admitted that he did not perform particularly well when given chances under Kompany, but BILD claim that a January exit could become an increasingly concrete topic should his lack of game time continue.

Pointing to the success of Paul Wanner, who has been starring on loan at Bundesliga and Conference League side Heidenheim so far this term, it is claimed that a temporary move away in the winter would be beneficial.

Bayern, however, have been quick to play down talk of a potential problem with Tel. Kompany has said that "it's normal" for young players to occasionally be out of the team and that he "needs to keep fighting."

Sporting director Christoph Freund was even more clear, stating that a potential January loan is "not a topic." He also voiced his belief that the Frenchman will succeed at Bayern.

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Public assertions are one thing, actions are another, however, and Europe's elite will surely be keeping an eye on the situation of the teenager. In the spring, Tel was being heavily linked with a move to Man Utd.

The 19-year-old would fit INEOS' new transfer model to a tee. Sir Jim Ratcliffe has stated that rather than spending a fortune on the world's biggest stars, he would prefer Man Utd to unearth the 'next Kylian Mbappe.'

Frenchman Tel fits the bill. When on form and handed opportunities, the attacker is a devastating player and he is surely not content with just rotting on the bench at the Allianz Arena.