Tottenham Hotspur have quite the collection of young talent in their squad, and while new manager Thomas Frank has yet to fully appreciate the skill set of some of these players, Spurs supporters have to be high on the long term potential at the various pieces at all levels of the squad.
Lately, the young forward duo of Wilson Odobert and Mathys Tel has been coming around after a rough start to the season, where they were made to answer for problems in the squad building that honestly were not their fault. Odobert and Tel were the most decisive players in a recent 2-2 draw with Manchester United, which would have otherwise been a resounding defeat without their second half inclusions.
Clubs around Europe are starting to take notice of these young stars, and now Italian outlet Corriere della Sera is reporting, via Roma Press, that Serie a giants AS Roma have added Tel to their transfer wishlist this January alongside Italian striker Gianluca Scamacca and Manchester United backup Joshua Zirkzee.
He's shown real ability as a No. 9
With Artem Dovbyk injured, Roma, who already have a somewhat weak attack, are more interested in adding a striker, and Tel has shown some real ability as a 9 in games against Leeds and Manchester United. It makes a ton of sense for Roma to want the U21 talent, but it would, likewise, make no sense for Tottenham to sell him.
They just bought Tel permanently from Bayern Munich in the summer transfer window, and it's clear that when he's on the ball, he has the athleticism and technical ability that many of his teammates, including more experienced ones, don't have. There's something in Tel worth cultivating, and even if he has some issues with Frank after the Champions League squad snub, that's no reason or indication that he should or even wants to leave, contrary to what Corriere della Sera is implying.
Roma have been one of the best defensive units in world football this seaosn under their own new underdog coach in Gian Piero Gasperini, and they are actually second to only Inter Milan in the Serie A table. So they'd be a lot more dangerous with a striker and left winger like Tel in the squad. The fact that a club like Roma are interesetd in Tel this winter goes to show you how highly rated the young Frenchman is around Europe. He's a keeper.