Arsenal have emerged as the frontrunners to sign Mathys Tel after negotiations between Manchester United and Bayern Munich completely collapsed.
Despite Tel’s strong preference for a move to Old Trafford, United’s inability to meet Bayern’s demands has left the door wide open for Arsenal to make their move. With less than 24 hours remaining in the transfer window, Mikel Arteta’s side must now satisfy two key conditions if they are to secure the 19-year-old’s signature.
United had initially been optimistic about securing a deal for Tel, especially after offloading Marcus Rashford on loan. However, their proposal of a temporary move with an option to buy was swiftly rejected by Bayern, who are only interested in a permanent sale. As a result, multiple reports—including Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg—have confirmed that talks between United and Bayern have completely collapsed. With United out of the race, Arsenal are now actively working on a deal, though significant hurdles remain.
Arsenal’s interest in Tel is not new, but they now have a genuine opportunity to bring him to the Emirates. According to sources, Bayern are demanding a €60m (£50m) transfer fee—the same amount Tottenham were reportedly willing to pay before pulling out of the race. The second major condition revolves around Tel’s role in the squad, with the young forward seeking assurances over his playing time. He wants to be a regular starter rather than a rotation option, which means Arteta must outline a clear plan for how he fits into the squad, whether as a winger or as the main striker.
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Despite their strong position, Arsenal are yet to finalize terms with Bayern. Reports from The Guardian suggest that initial contact has been made with Tel’s representatives, and the player is open to a move. However, no agreement has been reached, and discussions over whether the deal will be a loan with an obligation to buy or a direct permanent transfer are still ongoing. With time running out, Arsenal must move quickly if they want to finalize a deadline-day swoop for the highly-rated forward.
Mikel Arteta remains tight-lipped on Arsenal’s transfer plans, though he confirmed that the club is working to strengthen the squad. Following their dominant 5-1 victory over Manchester City, Arteta stated, “We are trying everything that we can, but I don’t want to give any reassurance or not. It doesn’t depend only on us.” His cautious optimism suggests that Arsenal are still in the market for reinforcements, but it remains to be seen whether a deal for Tel can be wrapped up in time.
Should Arsenal fail to land Tel, they may revisit their interest in other striking options. They previously made an approach for Ollie Watkins, only for Aston Villa to reject their bid outright. Additionally, long-term targets Benjamin Sesko and Alexander Isak remain on their radar, though a move for Isak would likely prove extremely difficult. If Arsenal do manage to secure Tel, it could reshape their summer transfer strategy and provide Arteta with another exciting attacking option as the Gunners push for the Premier League title.
