Manchester United walked away from a January transfer target last year and it has since turned into a disaster for a Premier League rival.
Last summer, Manchester United were in the market for a striker to bolster Ruben Amorim’s squad.
United were linked to Mathys Tel after he made it clear he wanted to leave Bayern Munich, and it looked as though a move to Old Trafford was on the cards.
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However, Ineos walked away from Tel after learning that Bayern wanted a £9 million loan fee for a temporary deal.
Instead, Tel completed a £30m move to Tottenham, but the 20-year-old’s time in North London has been nothing short of disastrous.
Tottenham forward Mathys Tel facing Liverpool.
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Man United were right to reject Mathys Tel deal
At the time, United fans were frustrated at missing out on Mathys Tel, as Amorim was short of attacking options.
But time has proven Ineos made the right call to ignore Tel. As per the Daily Mail, Tel has been axed from Tottenham’s Champions League squad for the second time, just seven months after his permanent move.
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Tel was initially left out of Tottenham’s squad for the Champions League, but was later brought in by Thomas Frank after an injury to Dominic Solanke.
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However, he will play no part in Tottenham’s final two group stage games in the tournament after being omitted again.
Tel’s only appearance in the Champions League came in a 32-minute stint against Slavia Prague. He has only completed one 90-minute match in the Premier League and has scored just three goals in 20 appearances all season.
Man United could sign new striker in 2026
Ineos are waiting until the summer to appoint a new permanent head coach, meaning Michael Carrick has 16 games remaining to push for Champions League qualification.
The summer budget will likely depend on whether the Red Devils finish inside the top five and secure a return to Europe’s most prestigious tournament.
With Joshua Zirkzee’s future still uncertain, United may dip into the market for a replacement if the Dutch striker is sold.
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So far, Benjamin Sesko has had to shoulder the responsibility of being United’s only out-and-out striker.
While Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha have filled in on occasion, United may splash the cash on a new centre-forward in 2026.
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