Why Spurs must gamble on signing £88m winger to upgrade on Tel

Saturday afternoon’s 3-0 defeat for Tottenham Hotspur proved that you can spend all you like but it will not guarantee a strong performance.

Really, Spurs should know that better than most. Remember how they spent the Gareth Bale money? Yeah, that didn’t go particularly well, did it?

Of course, the Lilywhites have spent far more efficiently this summer but it’s a timely reminder that things do not always work out.

REUTERS/Ian Walton

Roberto De Zerbi‘s side, however, are far better than that result suggests. Sandro Tonali and Co will no doubt come good. Yet, while there were problems in defence and midfield, the attack stood out like a sore thumb for all of the wrong reasons.

At the heart of that was their two stars of pre-season; Richarlison and Mathys Tel, albeit the latter was certainly not a disaster.

Tel’s performance vs Brentford in numbers

In pre-season, Tel was rather comfortably the star for Tottenham.

It made a nice change. After all, the young Frenchman only scored four goals in all competitions last term and supplied just two assists.

REUTERS/Hollie Adams

Well, he looked as vibrant as he ever has done in Spurs colours across the summer months, scoring a delightful free-kick against Sydney FC and providing three assists against Auckland FC and then Hoffenheim just over a week ago.

Tel was a radiant character in those games and looked like he had the beating of every defender he came up against. He glided across the turf and crucially for a player whose output has been poor, had the end product to match.

Yet, with the Lilywhites traveled across London on Saturday, Tel slightly reverted to type, just as Richarlison did.

In truth, the 21-year-old looked like one of the few players who may make something happen in the first half and he did last the 90 minutes, unlike his colleagues up front.

He completed the most dribbles in the entire match with six, a stat that showcased some of that pre-season form was still there. Yet, he didn’t have a shot on target, only had three touches in the opposition’s box and failed to complete either of his two cross attempts.

It was not a dreadful performance from Tel, particularly in comparison to some of his teammates but it showed the need to sign some competition.

How Spurs could replace Mathys Tel in the transfer window

Since finalising the signings of Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes, the primary objective for De Zerbi has been to strengthen the forward line at his disposal.

He is closing in on doing just that with deals reportedly already agreed for Savinho and Omar Marmoush of Manchester City.

REUTERS/Tyrone Siu

Yet, the Italian is not done yet. Another attacker is likely to arrive with the likes of Nicolas Jackson and Folarin Balogun tracked in recent weeks. Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo remains a primary target but securing that move will be tricky. The Netherlands star scored for Liverpool in their recent 2-2 draw with Newcastle and remains an important part of the furniture until they sign a new winger.

As a result, Spurs have had to look at alternatives. One of those, according to Football FanCast sources, is Chelsea’s Mykhailo Mudryk.

The £88m winger has not played a competitive game of football since October 2024 after testing positive for the banned substance, meldonium.

REUTERS/Tyrone Siu

He appeared in pre-season for the Blues but has agreed to spend the 2026/27 campaign on loan. Leeds have looked at him but our sources suggest Tottenham have also made an enquiry to understand what it may take to complete a deal.

While a permanent move may not be on the cards, in the eventuality that they are unable to get their hands on Gakpo, this could be a shrewd move in the dying stages of the transfer window.

Of course, there will be concerns surrounding the player’s fitness and quality. However, lest we forget, this is a player who was once regarded as one of the finest young wingers in Europe. Premier League champions Arsenal wanted to sign him at the same time he moved to Chelsea. Considering their track record in the market of late, it must mean there is player in there.

Compared to Tel, he could be just the replacement they are craving. Indeed, like the Frenchman, Mudryk is a real live wire in the final third, hailed as a “dribbling monster” by scout Antonio Mango during his time with Shakhtar Donestk.

He may not have played properly for nearly two years but the data is encouraging before that.

One of the quickest players in world football, there is something of a Gareth Bale-like vibe to the way he darts down the left with gusto and aggression.

Now 25 years of age, he has only ever scored 15 goals in his entire senior career but that really doesn’t tell the full story. Like the incoming Savinho and indeed like Tel, he’s so progressive with his actions.

In 2023/24, Mudryk ranked as highly as the top 9% of wingers in Europe’s top five leagues for productive dribbles and among the best 10% of wingers for progresssive carries per 90 minutes. Sure, the output hasn’t entirely been there but he is one of the most dangerous wide players around on his day.

For Spurs, they have been craving Premier League-proven assets and in Gakpo, they would find their perfect left winger.

Reuters/Lee Smith

However, with that deal now unlikely and time running out to get it over the line, there are certainly worse ideas than securing a late loan deal for Mudryk.