Chelsea have refused to rule out the possibility of reigniting their interest in Mathys Tel and may attempt to lure him to Stamford Bridge if rivals Tottenham Hotspur opt against triggering an option to make his loan switch from Bayern Munich permanent, GIVEMESPORT sources have revealed.
The Blues are poised to have Dario Essugo joining them in the summer, thanks to already agreeing a deal worth in excess of £18million with Portuguese giants Sporting, but head coach Enzo Maresca is going in search of more options on the flanks as he prepares for his second season at the helm.
Although Kendry Paez and Estevao Willian are also on course to head to Chelsea in the coming months, with the latter arriving for an initial £29million from Palmeiras, the west Londoners are monitoring Tel's situation at Tottenham ahead of potentially pouncing when the transfer window reopens.
Blues May Reignite Attempts to Seal Tel Deal
West Londoners held initial talks over move in winter window
Chelsea could target Tel if he leaves Tottenham at the end of the season, according to GMS sources, as their long-standing interest has refused to go away since holding initial conversations over a possible move from Bayern Munich when they were searching for fresh attacking impetus during the winter transfer window.
The wide forward ended up heading to Spurs instead of Stamford Bridge, with the north Londoners negotiating an initial loan deal which includes a £45million option to buy, but the Blues are monitoring his situation and could hand him an opportunity to remain in the Premier League if he does not extend his stay in his current surroundings.
GMS sources have been informed that Tel fits the bill for Chelsea as they are seeking a right-footed winger who is comfortable being deployed on the left flank, but they are having to play the waiting game as Tottenham deciding to keep him on board permanently would eliminate any chances of him heading across the capital.
The 19-year-old has been described as 'extraordinary' by Thierry Henry, who managed him during a stint in charge of France's under-21 side, and Maresca is an admirer as he goes in search of having five senior wingers - some of whom are capable of being involved on both sides - to compete for two wide positions next term.
Chelsea have acknowledged that Mykhailo Mudryk could still have to go through a time-consuming appeal process as he waits to discover whether his provisional ban for testing positive for meldonium becomes a suspension of up to four years, GMS sources have learned, while they will make a final decision on Jadon Sancho's future at the end of the season.
GIVEMESPORT Key Statistic: Mathys Tel has been limited to 333 minutes of Premier League action since joining Tottenham Hotspur
Gittens and Williams Also on Maresca's Radar
Tactician keeping options open as he seeks attacking additions
Tel is not the only forward on Chelsea's radar as GMS sources have been told that Borussia Dortmund playmaker Jamie Gittens is high in their thinking, while there remains a long-standing interest in Nico Williams after he has continued shining for Athletic Bilbao since winning Euro 2024 with Spain less than 12 months ago.
The latter has a release clause worth in the region of £50million written into his contract, which the Blues could choose to trigger in order to open talks over personal terms without his current employers being able to interfere, but there is an awareness that the deal would still be expensive.
Chelsea need to decide whether it would be cost-effective to land Williams as they would still have to fork out hefty agent fees and Williams would be eyeing a lucrative pay package in order to swap his boyhood club for Stamford Bridge, GMS sources understand, resulting in Maresca and influential figures keeping their options open.
GMS correspondent Ben Jacobs recently revealed that there are plans for Paez to be part of the west Londoners' Club World Cup squad after he has been training with Ligue 1 side Strasbourg in preparation for his summer arrival, but the Blues are still in the market for further reinforcements.
All statistics courtesy of Sofascore - correct as of 09/04/2025