Chelsea have held initial talks with Bayern Munich over a potential January move for Mathys Tel.
That's according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, who on Monday evening reported that the Blues are in the "early stages of contacts" with the German club about the teenage striker.
BILD, meanwhile, have gone one step further, reporting that Chelsea have offered Christopher Nkunku, who is said to be unhappy at Stamford Bridge due to a lack of Premier League game time, to Bayern in exchange for Tel. So, who exactly is Mathys Tel? And why do Chelsea want him?
Tel, 19, was born in Sarcelles, France, and began his professional career with Ligue 1 side Stade Rennais in 2021, making his debut when he was just 16 years old.
Less than a year and 10 appearances later, Bayern Munich came calling, paying Rennes £24 million for his services.
Since, Tel has made 81 appearances for Bayern, scoring 16 goals. In 2022, he became Bayern's youngest-ever goalscorer when he found in the net in a German Cup game aged 17 years and 126 days old.
The youngster's most memorable Bayern goal, however, came in a Champions League game against Manchester United in September 2023, when his 92nd-minute strike sealed a dramatic 4-3 victory for the Bavarians.
On the international stage, Tel has yet to earn a senior cap for France but has been a regular for Les Bleus' youth teams, including the U-21s, where he's scored three goals in eight games.
What is Mathys Tel's style of play?
Fast, technically proficient, and a clinical finisher, Tel has drawn comparisons to both France legend Thierry Henry and Kylian Mbappe throughout his fledging career.
"He's a very young, talented player who can play different positions," former Bayern head coach Julian Nagelsmann once said of the French forward. "He's very quick, strong with his body. He's good at defending the ball with his back towards the opponent's goal," he added.
Tel's Bayern teammate Thomas Muller, meanwhile, has previously described him as a "superb finisher."
As for why Chelsea may want Tel, the Frenchman clearly aligns with the club and owner Todd Boehly's strategy of investing in young players with significant potential. His ability to play across the front line also reflects the versatility that manager Enzo Maresca values, while his technical ability, pace, and physical maturity make him well-suited for the Premier League.
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