Mathys Tel appears to have overtaken Joshua Zirkzee in Manchester United’s striker search with the Premier League giants stepping up their pursuit and opening talks with the Bayern Munich starlet.
Throughout the pitch, from back to front, Manchester United are no longer prioritising big names with big reputations, shifting their focus from proven talent to potential at the beginning of the Ineos era.
Jarrad Branthwaite, Goncalo Inacio and Leny Yoro are among their leading defensive targets, while Joao Neves – the Benfica teenager – is a priority to strengthen the midfield.
It’s fitting, then, that 18-year-old Mathys Tel would have emerged as a top target for the attacking areas.
Manchester United chase Mathys Tel
According to Sky Deutschland reporter Florian Plettenberg, Man United have not only opened talks with the Bayern Munich starlet after watching him closely in recent outings, Tel also appears to have overtaken Bologna’s Joshua Zirkzee in the Red Devils’ pecking order.
“In the past few weeks, Man United have intensively analysed him,” Plettenberg writes on X. “The club have contacted his management and inquired about a potential transfer in the summer.
“United definitely want to sign another striker in the summer. Aside from that, they are very satisfied with (Rasmus) Hojlund.
“Manchester United’s interest in Zirkzee is still present, but has somewhat diminished in the meantime. Tel, he’s now in the spotlight but, at this stage, he’s 100 per cent focused on FC Bayern.”
Bayern Munich wonderkid a top target
Zirkzee moved on from Bayern after struggling to establish a place in the starting XI and Tel, despite some very promising signs under Thomas Tuchel, may find himself having to make a similar decision.
The France Under21 international – an explosive talent who loves to cut in from the left and hammer shots at goal in a manner reminiscent of Marcus Rashford – has not started a single Bundesliga game all season, even if he has made 17 appearances off the bench.
Tel, who joined Bayern from Rennes in a £17 million deal, does still have six goals to his name in 2023/24, however. One of those came against Man United in the Champions League group-stages in the autumn.