Manchester United reportedly showed interest in Mathys Tel after observing his limited starts at Bayern. At Bayern, Tel has struggled to cement a regular starting role despite promising attributes.
Other clubs such as Tottenham, Arsenal, and Aston Villa were also linked.
Tel is young (19) and ambitious; reports suggest he’s unhappy with sporadic playing time and wants to move if the right offer comes.
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2. Bayern’s stance
Bayern have responded with caution but also with firmness.
Key lines from Bayern
Bayern’s new board member Max Eberl made it clear Bayern want to keep Tel, expressing that the club values players who want success and that they also believe developing young talents while winning titles is do-able.
Christoph Freund, Bayern’s sporting director, has indicated that staying is “absolutely realistic” for Tel. He emphasised that Tel is “extremely connected” to the club and loves being there.
However, Freund also acknowledged that there have been a lot of conversations, that the player has many options, that he needs to think things through. Bayern appear open to listening, but only under terms they find acceptable.
What Bayern demand
Bayern reportedly rejected a loan offer from United.
Instead, Bayern prefer either a permanent deal or a loan with an obligation to buy — meaning they want more certainty and financial commitment.
The club seem unwilling to let Tel go cheaply or under lax terms. There’s indication they believe his value is high, especially with interest from other clubs.
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3. Manchester United’s proposal and issues
United were said to prefer a loan deal (initially at least), possibly with an option to buy, rather than a full permanent deal. That’s something Bayern are not keen on unless there is an obligation to buy.
Reports say that United’s offer was considered insufficient by Bayern. The package didn’t meet Bayern’s valuation or conditions (e.g. the permanent/obligation clause).
There was also a timing issue: with the window closing, negotiations had to resolve quickly, and United reportedly weren’t willing or able to match Bayern’s demands in the timeframe.
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4. What Bayern did (or didn’t do)
Bayern omitted Tel from the matchday squad vs Holstein Kiel amid speculation, with Freund explaining the omission was partly due to the distraction around his future.
They held “positive” meetings with his agent and Freund and Tel were in ongoing dialogue about what might happen.
They appear to be maintaining flexibility: Bayern are not outright blocking a move, but they are setting the price and conditions high, trying to protect Tel’s value and ensure they get what they feel is fair in return.
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5. Outcome (so far)
As of the last reports, negotiations between Bayern and Manchester United had failed to reach an agreement.
One main sticking point: Bayern’s asking price / terms (e.g. obligation to buy) vs what United were offering (loan or loan + option). The offer from United did not satisfy Bayern.
Tel remains in a position where he could stay at Bayern; Bayern have said this is “absolutely realistic.”
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6. Likely scenarios
Going forward, here are plausible outcomes based on the information:
1. Tel stays at Bayern
Given Bayern’s reluctance to lower their conditions and the breakdown in talks, it seems quite possible that Tel remains with the club for now. Especially if no club meets Bayern’s fee or contract stipulations.
2. Move in the summer
If United (or another interested club) can prepare a more attractive offer — permanent transfer or loan with obligation — Tel might move in the next window. Bayern may prefer this so they can negotiate from a position of less urgency.
3. Alternative clubs could/ will enter the fray
Since Arsenal, Tottenham and others have been linked, Bayern might get better offers or more suitors, putting them in a stronger negotiating position.
4. A compromise (loan + high fee / obligation)
Possible that United could come back with a stronger offer that includes an obligation to buy, or pay a higher fee. Bayern seem open to that kind of deal but aren’t budging on price/terms yet.
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7. Conclusion
In short: Bayern Munich are far from being desperate to sell Mathys Tel. They value him highly, want to protect his development path, and are setting terms that reflect his potential. United’s approach hasn’t met those terms, especially regarding permanence or obligation, so Bayern have held firm. The deal seems unlikely to happen under the current offer, but a future move is still possible if conditions change.