Tottenham confirmed on Monday that Mathys Tel had been left out of the club’s Champions League squad ahead of their clash with Borussia Dortmund.
Tel is reportedly ‘infuriated’ and ‘bemused’ by the omission, with the Frenchman having started the last three Premier League games for the North London side.
He is now looking for a possible exit from the club, despite only joining permanently last June from Bayern Munich.
Tel, alongside teammate Radu Dragusin have been touted for moves to AS Roma before the transfer window closes in just over a week.
Tel has shown flashes of promise for Spurs but ultimately fallen short of the expectations that were, perhaps unfairly, placed on the 20-year-old’s shoulders.
As one of the highest-rated young talents in Europe, it seemed like a coup when they were able to snag him on loan amid interest from Manchester United, Chelsea, and Aston Villa despite one of their poorest seasons in recent memory.
The surprise exclusion could be a result of Tel’s reported disappointment with his usage in the squad, and with the market soon closing, Tottenham could be looking to bring in an alternative, explaining why they wouldn’t want to waste a valuable Champions League spot.
Is Thomas Frank on borrowed time?
Tel certainly cannot be blamed for yet another abysmal campaign for Spurs.
14th place after 22 games hardly instills confidence that Thomas Frank can turn things around with the club just 3 points ahead of their tally at this time last season under Ange Postecoglou.
A slow start could be forgiven, but this is a man who knows the league inside out from his time at Brentford, where he consistently had them higher than Spurs sit now despite a fraction of the budget and pull.
Two points from their last four games show no signs of improvement for the Dane, who must be walking on ice thinner than any other boss in the league currently.
Frank’s credibility dwindles with each passing week, and the axing of Postecoglou after winning the club’s first trophy in 17 years suggests the board aren’t willing to wait around for results.
Tel’s departure could signal the end of what should have been a promising era, and barring a spectacular window, the end for Thomas Frank.
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