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Tottenham forward Mathys Tel could be recalled early by Bayern Munich if Spurs don’t exercise their option to buy him outright before the end of the season. The Lilywhites snapped up the 19-year-old on loan at the start of February.

Tel agreed to join Spurs after reportedly rejecting the club’s advances days earlier and has featured seven times for Ange Postecoglou’s side. He has started four games in the Premier League and bagged the only goal of his Spurs career to date when he found the back of the net in Tottenham’s FA Cup fourth round defeat to Aston Villa in February.

According to German outlet Kicker, Bayern may take Tel back to the Allianz Arena early so he can play in the Club World Cup.

The tournament, which has been given a new format, is due to get underway on Sunday, June 15, with Bayern one of two clubs representing Germany alongside Borussia Dortmund.

Spurs can pay a fee of £45million to keep Tel at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on a permanent basis and will likely need to communicate their intentions before his parent club recall him.

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Tel has struggled to endear himself to Tottenham supporters since arriving in England and was forced to delete a social media post this week after upsetting a host of fans.

Some Spurs supporters took exception after he posted a photo of himself to Instagram that showed him wearing a Fulham shirt with Willian’s name on the back of it.

And he will be under pressure to kick on before the end of the campaign, with Postecoglou yet to see the best of the player on the pitch.

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After Tel had penned terms in north London, Postecoglou gave the youngster a glowing reference as he explained: “He'll be a Tottenham player. I think he’ll show everyone he’s going to be a Tottenham player in the next six months. I didn’t bring him here [just] for six months.

“With what we have in the next few months and more importantly what we are building beyond, I thought it would be a perfect fit for his next step.”

Tel will have his next opportunity to showcase his talents when Tottenham travel to Chelsea for a Premier League showdown next Thursday. The Lilywhites then host Southampton three days later before welcoming Eintracht Frankfurt in the opening leg of their Europa League quarter-final tie on Thursday, April 10.

Spurs are currently 14th in the Premier League table after enduring a difficult season, but will be eyeing up European glory in Postecoglou’s second season in charge.

Mathys Tel has scrapped a social media post in which he wore the shirt of a Tottenham rival. Spurs fans voiced their anger at the picture on Thursday, with on-loan Bayern Munich youngster Tel insisting he 'did not know' before taking it down.

The Lilywhites are yet to see the best of Tel, who signed on loan with a £45million buy option after an intense January transfer battle. The 19-year-old boasts a gleaming reputation as one of European's standout young players, but he has only scored once in seven appearances since completing the switch.

Tel is yet to find his way into the hearts of Tottenham fans, and an ill-judged Instagram post has done little to help him. In it, the teenager is seen strolling down a hallway in a Fulham shirt with Willian's name and number on the back.

That didn't go down well with the Spurs faithful, given that Willian previously spent a season with bitter foes Arsenal and seven years with London rivals Chelsea. On top of that, the Brazilian veteran helped Fulham to a 2-0 victory over Tottenham in the last game before the international break.

Tel was made aware of his mistake on Thursday, when @dxnthfc wrote on X: "Is Mathys Tel on a wind up?". @NickRandySpurs then chipped in with: "Wtf am I looking at [sick emoji]." And @NJSTottenham posted: "He's out in the summer anyway."

Others were more forgiving after Tel deleted the picture upon realising Willian's club history. The player himself commented: "Ahaha sorry my bad guys I didn't know [salute emoji]."

Tel will hope to hit his stride in a Tottenham shirt when domestic action resumes after the international break. Their next game is a tough trip to Chelsea next Thursday, with a home game against Southampton and a Europa League double-header against Eintracht Frankfurt following shortly afterwards.

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The young forward scored twice for France Under-21s in a 4-0 win over Slovakia on Monday, producing the kind of display which showed why Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou is keen to keep him around beyond this season.

"He'll be a Tottenham player," said the Aussie after Tel's arrival. "I think he’ll show everyone he’s going to be a Tottenham player in the next six months. I didn’t bring him here [just] for six months. With what we have in the next few months and more importantly what we are building beyond I thought it would be a perfect fit for his next step."

Tottenham have set their sights on Bournemouth's Andoni Iraola, casting doubt over the future of current manager Ange Postecoglou, according to reports. Postecoglou has been feeling the heat this season as Spurs have slipped down the rankings following a fifth-place finish in his inaugural campaign.

Iraola, who took the helm at Bournemouth concurrently with Postecoglou's appointment at Spurs, has previously earned plaudits for his work at Rayo Vallecano. His initial season on the south coast started slowly, but he has since steered the team to notable progress this year.

Despite a recent slump that yielded just one point from four matches, leaving the Cherries 10th in the standings, an impressive 11-match unbeaten streak earlier in the season keeps them within reach of European competition. They also remain contenders in the FA Cup, gearing up for a clash against Manchester City on Sunday.

Spurs find themselves trailing 10 points behind Iraola's squad, even after clawing back to a 1-1 draw against them in the league. However, Postecoglou still has the opportunity to clinch silverware this term, with Tottenham poised to battle Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League quarter-finals.

The Athletic has named Iraola as Tottenham's prime candidate should they decide to replace their current manager. The outlet suggests that Postecoglou's tenure beyond the current season is shrouded in "serious doubt," although no definitive decision has been reached yet.

Postecoglou is not out of the woods yet, with a year remaining on his contract and the possibility of staying put. After a troubling dip that saw Spurs flirting with the relegation zone due to a spate of injuries, a trio of victories in February provided a much-needed respite before their form took another downturn.

Iraola, who also has a year left on his contract, is among those being monitored by Spurs as per recent reports. He's not alone on their watchlist; Fulham's Marco Silva and Brentford's Thomas Frank are also said to be on the radar.

The North London club headed into the international break on a low note, having secured just a single point from their last three outings. Their most recent fixture was a loss to Silva's Fulham, where late strikes from Rodrigo Muniz and Ryan Sessegnon decided the match.

"Both goals were pretty soft," lamented Postecoglou in his post-match analysis on Match of the Day. "At the very least you want to stay in the game. I thought in the second half we were the better team and had the best chances up to that point. So to concede is very disappointing.

"It's been a difficult campaign for sure. But I feel we've lost too many games that we should have got stuff out of, and this was one of those games.

"It's another international break we go into off a loss and you feel that. We just need to make sure we're ready for when we come back."

This article first appeared on The Mirror.

Former Tottenham defender Jan Vertonghen announced that he will be retiring from football at the end of the season, having opened up on the daily pain he is suffering with and the fear of becoming dependent on painkillers. Vertonghen, 37, now plays in his native Belgium for Anderlecht after leaving Spurs in 2020.

Vertonghen held a press conference on Tuesday to confirm the news that he would be quitting the sport once Anderlecht's season comes to a close, having dealt with persistent ankle and Achilles injuries that have plagued his time at the club. He arrived in 2022 from Benfica.

“During all those months on the sidelines, I had time to reflect,” he said. “I quickly came to the conclusion that I wouldn’t be able to play a full year at the level I wanted. I constantly suffer from ankle pain, so the decision was quite easy to make.

“I’ve seen about ten specialists this year who assured me the pain would go away. But the pain is daily, and just walking up the stadium stairs hurts. I have to warm up for a very long time before I can play.

“I take painkillers and have had several injections, but I’m not a fan of that kind of shock treatment. I don’t want to be dependent on painkillers.

“I feel like I’ll still be welcome at every club I’ve played for, and that makes me proud, as does the fact that I’ve been able to discover many different countries and cultures.”

Vertonghen spent eight years in north London, amassing over 200 appearances for the club and forging a memorable partnership with compatriot Toby Alderweireld that shone brightly under Mauricio Pochettino.

He is also the most capped Belgian player of all time, playing a record 157 times for his country, including reaching third place in the 2018 World Cup.

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Spurs issued a statement thanking Vertonghen for his service after hearing of his plans, paying tribute to not only one of the club's great players but also praising his character.

"From League Cup finals in 2015 and 2021, to our highest-ever Premier League finish in 2017 to our maiden UEFA Champions League final in 2019, the Belgium international was a central player in an incredible Tottenham Hotspur side," they wrote.

"Not only was he a great player, but he was also a man that embraced the community and was keen to help the less fortunate, which saw him give up his time to support the North Enfield Foodbank on a number of occasions. He was undoubtedly a fan favourite."

Mauricio Pochettino, the man at the helm of the US national team, has downplayed speculations of a swift return to Tottenham Hotspur despite his recent admission of an emotional pull to his former club. Pochettino, who steered Spurs with commendable success from 2014 to 2019, reaching the heights of a Champions League final and securing four top-four league finishes, has expressed a heartfelt desire to make a return.

While he currently gears towards leading the United States into a World Cup on home soil in 2026, murmurs have persisted regarding a potential comeback amidst Tottenham's lacklustre performance under Ange Postecoglou this season, with the team languishing at 14th in the standings.

Pochettino, who still harbours a connection with Spurs chairman Daniel Levy, articulated his sentiments clearly: "I am going to repeat. In the bottom of my heart I still feel the same. I would like one day to come back," he stated.

"Not because of my ego it's because my feeling is I would like one day to win with Tottenham."

Pochettino elaborated on his vision for a Tottenham triumph, saying, "I think now Tottenham is a club with an expectation to win because if you see the facilities – training ground or stadium – now you can see it is about winning trophies. That is why I would like one day to come back."

Pochettino has expressed his deep connection to Tottenham Hotspur, saying, "But if that doesn't happen, it doesn't happen. With all the possibilities again to build something special, that is my feeling and it didn't change. It's six years since we left and it's always going to be a special club for me."

Despite recent setbacks with the US national team, Pochettino remains unfazed. After their defeats in the Concacaf Nations League and against Canada, he reassured fans: "I've seen some times that teams that were building to play in the World Cup, they were not good until around the World Cup," adding, "I want to send a message to the fans, don't be pessimistic and don't get bad feelings."

However, a BBC Sport report suggests that prising Pochettino away from his current role before the 2026 World Cup could be a costly affair. It would reportedly require 'one of the biggest financial compensation fees in football history', comparable to the hefty sums paid for Julian Nagelsmann and Graham Potter's managerial moves, which were around £21million.

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"I think we have time because if we will be in this situation in one year time, for sure, I will tell you, 'Houston, we have a problem,' no? In one year, if we're talking about that, it's because we have a big problem and we were not capable to discover, to try design a better strategy to provide to the team the capacity to play in a different way.

"I think we have time and I prefer that that happened today than [you] know, in one year," he added.

There are some players that look like a natural fit for certain clubs and Nico Williams joining Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal is a move that, on paper at least, feels like a match made in footballing heaven. But factors outside of the Gunners’ control could throw Williams joining Arsenal into unwanted jeopardy.

Williams dazzled at last year’s European Championship as Spain went on to win the tournament in stylish fashion and there was an expectation that the winger would be on the move in the following summer transfer window. A transfer didn’t transpire though, with Williams sticking around at Athletic Club where he has continued his eye-catching form.

In 37 appearances for the La Liga outfit this term, the 22-year-old has netted nine goals and registered seven assists - form that has once again got Europe’s biggest clubs sniffing around the mercurial talent. And given Arsenal were credited with interest last year, it’s likely the capital club will once again carry that over to the upcoming summer transfer window.

However, Bayern Munich, as well as two Premier League sides, could throw a spanner into the works of Arsenal’s transfer plans, especially if they decide to part ways with Kingsley Coman. According to Caught Offside, Coman, who scored the winning goal in the 2020 Champions League final, is a transfer target for both Tottenham and Newcastle United.

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The Frenchman has started less than half of Bayern Munich’s Bundesliga matches this season and has very much been on the peripheries of Vincent Kompany’s side. If he was to leave the German giants this summer, it would mean Bayern Munich would likely flex their financial muscle in the transfer market, with the same outlet reporting Williams is on their list of potential options.

While Arsenal will fancy their chances of persuading Wiliams to join the Arteta project, the pull of Bayern Munich might prove too much to counter, meaning they miss out on one of their top targets for the summer window. If so, it would prove a major blow for the incoming Arsenal sporting director.

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To much surprise, Edu Gaspar left the role at the Emirates Stadium last year, with Arsenal yet to announce his replacement. It has been reported that Andrea Berta, who made his name as Atletico Madrid’s sporting director, is expected to take over from Edu in the near future.

Tottenham star Cristian Romero has claimed that first-team players are unhappy with the “current situation” at the club after the 2-0 defeat at Fulham. The result left Spurs 14th in the table on just 34 points, with manager Ange Postecoglou in danger of presiding over their Premier League season since the 1993-94 campaign.

The game arguably turned when the Argentinian defender limped off during the second half, with Rodrigo Muniz and Ryan Sessegnon striking late for the hosts. Spurs also appeared toothless in attack, failing to muster a shot on target until the 65th minute, and frustrations appeared to boil over with the away fans at the final whistle. There were jeers from the travelling contingent, while Postecoglou became embroiled in an angry confrontation with one supporter.

Romero has now taken to social media to address matters. On Sunday night, the 26-year-old said on both X and Instagram that the players were not shying away from the situation after a 15th league defeat of the season.

“We’re not happy with our current situation, but this group will always stand up and take responsibility for everything that happens at the club,” he said. “Let’s all continue to stand together. Once again, fans, thank you for always being there @spursofficial.”

It appears Romero is not the only one who has that view. Goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario reacted by liking the post, although fans online had a mixed reaction to the statement.

Romero has recently returned from an injury lay-off, so his early withdrawal was also viewed as a precautionary measure from Postecoglou after his player appeared to hurt himself in a challenge. However, a number of fans questioned the change and made their views known at the final whistle.

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Postecoglou has frequently defended his style of play and cited the team’s injury crisis as a defence for poor results. However, following the defeat at Craven Cottage he conceded that supporters had a right to be angry.

"I get the fans' disappointment,” he said. “It's unacceptable to see 15 league defeats. It's nowhere near good enough, nowhere near the level we need to be and I understand the supporters' frustrations with that.”

Tottenham Hotspur loanee striker Mathys Tel entered the away end at Craven Cottage to address furious supporters after Sunday's Premier League defeat to Fulham. Ange Postecoglou's side slumped to their 18th loss of the season against their London rivals - and their third in five games - to remain 13th, 14 points adrift of the Champions League spots.

Spurs managed just one shot in the first half and, despite an improved showing after the interval, couldn't find the breakthrough before the Cottagers' bit twice late on. Rodrigo Muniz fired the hosts ahead in the 78th minute before Ryan Sessegnon came off the bench to put the result out of doubt against his old club. Tottenham supporters have aired their frustration over their regression under Postecoglou this term, and toxicity was unsurprisingly rife among the travelling faithful at full-time.

According to X account @SpursArmy, vice-captain James Maddison fuelled the fury by giving the upset fans a thumbs up as he headed directly towards the tunnel.

However, 19-year-old striker Mathys Tel earned praise after the same account shared a video of him talking face-to-face with supporters in response to their anguish.

The Frenchman, who joined from Bayern Munich in January, was heard making pleas like "we need to be together" and "we need you".

As he was in deep conversation with some fans at the front of the stand, others were heard shouting uncomplimentary remarks, including "it's not good enough" and "get him out".

The latter was likely aimed at Postecoglou, who has been dealt a dreadful hand with injuries throughout his second campaign at the helm.

Spurs crashed out of the Carabao Cup semi-finals after a 4-0 second-leg defeat to Liverpool days before also exiting the FA Cup, losing 2-1 at Aston Villa.

Postecoglou's memorable claim that he always wins trophies in his second season is still beating, though.

The Australian's outfit have reached the Europa League quarter-finals after finishing fourth in the league phase and edging past AZ Alkmaar 3-2 on aggregate in the last 16.

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But he doesn't want his players to continue to flop in the Premier League solely with their European task in mind.

"I told the players not to have the idea of 'It's just the Europa League and nothing else'," Postecoglou explained after the final whistle.

"The reality of it is when we get back, we're going to have Thursday and Sunday games, and we've found already that we can't do that with 11 players.

"So we need to get some game time into the guys like Mathys Tel and others so that when the time comes, after the break, we have the squad to be able to tackle both."

A disappointing Tottenham performance saw them go 2-0 down to Fulham as a result of two second-half goals from substitutes Rodrigo Muniz and Ryan Sessegnon. Fresh off their Europa League success against AZ, Ange Postecoglou rotated his team but the gamble backfired and a tired XI were second-best to their spirited counterparts.

Two players were hooked at half-time, potentially spelling the end of one midfielder's career in north London, as Express Sport takes a look at the Spurs players involved.

Goalkeeper

Guglielmo Vicario - 6

There was little he could do to prevent either goal on a quiet day for the Italian stopper.

Defence

Djed Spence - 6

Had earned a shot at an England call-up while playing on the left, but switched to the right to accommodate Destiny Udogie and did not look the same player.

Cristian Romero - 6

The Argentine could not quite get into his rhythm but he was the better performer out of the Spurs backline despite a few desperate challenges still present in his game.

Ben Davies - 4

Got himself in a mess trying to stop Sessegnon from scoring against his former club and made to look silly. Has been a stalwart but quite the step down now from Micky van de Ven.

Destiny Udogie - 5

Struggled to provide the necessary overlap that Mathys Tel often needed on the left and was full of energy, but unable to create a partnership with those around him.

Midfield

Rodrigo Bentancur - 5

A midfield devoid of creativity was left to Bentancur to lead it, but they were second-best to Marco Silva's outfit and the Uruguayan was sloppy on the ball.

Yves Bissouma - 3

Another dismal performance and there was little surprise when Bissouma was hooked at half-time. Only moments before he passed the ball out of touch to an audible groan from the away fans.

Archie Gray - 5

Postecoglou gave many admirers their wish by pushing Gray into midfield, but he failed to replicate the stellar performances shown in a back four. The teenager looked slightly rusty but more minutes in that role will steer him in the right direction.

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Attack

Brennan Johnson - 4

Also taken off at half-time with Bissouma and needs to return to the Nottingham Forest player who was happy to take players on at will, rather than look to solely attack the back post and play off the ball. Wilson Odobert showed him how to do both in midweek.

Dominic Solanke - 6

Should have hit the back of the net from a Son Heung-min free-kick but he was largely feeding off scraps throughout.

Mathys Tel - 4

An uncomfortable day for the loanee who is facing increased competition for his place in the front three. He does look better suited to a left-wing role rather than being a pure number nine, with the opportunity to face up his marker and go past them.

Tottenham Hotspur's recent surge in form will face a stern examination as they journey to Craven Cottage to lock horns with Fulham. The north London club, who have only suffered one defeat in their last five league matches, are buoyed by the return of key players like Dominic Solanke, Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Guglielmo Vicario, Destiny Udogie, and Wilson Odobert from injury.

Despite securing three consecutive wins against Brentford, Manchester United, and Ipswich Town, their league standing remains unimpressive, still languishing in the bottom half of the table. However, Ange Postecoglou's squad has gained much-needed confidence over the past month. Yet, they haven't managed a win in their last two games, although they did manage to salvage a 2-2 draw against Bournemouth on Sunday after trailing 2-0.

The Premier League never offers an easy ride, and up next for Tottenham is a clash with Marco Silva's Fulham, who have had a commendable season so far. The west London team sit comfortably in mid-table and ahead of Spurs with their sights set firmly on European qualification. They endured a gut-wrenching loss to Brighton on Sunday when a 98th-minute penalty from Joao Pedro clinched a narrow 2-1 victory for the Seagulls.

Ahead of this all-London showdown, we bring you all the details you need to follow the match, which unfortunately won't be broadcast live on UK TV, reports the Mirror.

Why isn’t Fulham vs Tottenham on TV in the UK?

Sky Sports has selected another London-based match over Fulham vs Tottenham, which is set to kick off at 1:30pm on Sunday. With no games scheduled for the 12.30pm slot on TNT Sports, Sky will instead be airing Bournemouth's clash with Brentford on Saturday at 5.30pm.

Arsenal's hosting of Chelsea at 1:30pm and Leicester City's evening kick-off against Manchester United at the King Power Stadium at 7pm should make for an entertaining Super Sunday on Sky. Liverpool's EFL Cup final against Newcastle will also be broadcast on Sky Sports at 4:30pm.

Where can I watch Fulham vs Tottenham?

For those wondering where to watch Fulham vs Tottenham, highlights and key moments from the game at Craven Cottage will be available on the Sky Sports app and YouTube channel about 20 minutes after the final whistle. Extended highlights will also be shown on BBC's Match of the Day 2, starting at 10.30pm on Sunday.

Live updates can be followed on BBC Radio 5 Live and talkSPORT. While UK viewers won't be able to watch the game live, international fans can tune in via their local Premier League TV rights holders. For US-based fans, the match will be broadcast on Peacock and beIN Sports Connect for supporters in the Middle East.