For some odd reason, Tottenham Hotspur head coach Thomas Frank seems to have no interest in giving Mathys Tel an extended run of games at either left winger or striker, even though the Frenchman is both one of the most promising players on the team and already the best option on the left wing.
Spurs have no experienced players at the position after selling Son Heung-min to MLS club LAFC this past summer, signing not a soul to replace the South Korean legend. This season, Tel has been the best goal threat and overall player when given opportunities at the position, and he has, likewise, played well at striker.
Yet Frank has not given Tel many starts or meaningful minutes. Tel has played just 465 Premier League minutes this season with a meager five starts and five additional appearances off the bench. With three goals, Tel has nearly as many goals as starts, though Frank has yet to reward the 20 year old with more playing time.
Tottenham lost a key player to injury
That may be coming to change soon, because Tottenham just lost veteran striker Richarlison to a hamstring injury in a 2-1 loss to Aston Villa over the last weekend. That knocks Frank's main striker out of the lineup, giving Tel an easier path to playing time at striker, including in two striker looks.
And with Mohammed Kudus injured and both Wilson Odobert and Mathys Tel now the main starting wingers on the right and left, respectively, there is literally zero reason for Thomas Frank to continue to snub the ex Bayern Munich man.
On top of all that - as if this were not enough to sway the manager - Tel is mired in transfer rumors. The U21 talent has specifically requested a loan transfer out of the N17 in order to obtain more playing time before the 2025/26 European league seasons end and the 2026 World Cup begins.
While Tel's dreams of World Cup glory with a highly competitive France squad are likely misplaced, the overall sentiment is well taken. Tel is at a stage of his career where he needs to play, and if Frank is going to keep actively holding back despite plainly seeing that Tel is both his best short and long term option, then Tel may as well cut his losses and leave, implicitly until Spurs get their act together and hire a less incompetent manager.
All the forces of the footballing universe are combining to tell Frank that it is now the time to make Tel a regular starter in the attack. That left wing needs to have his name written in permanent marker.