After much drama in the winter window, Mathys Tel is finally at Tottenham Hotspur, ready to take on Liverpool in a clash that promises to be full of more twists and turns than his transfer saga.
The Frenchman completed his loan move to Spurs from Bayern Munich on deadline day and is in line to make his debut against Liverpool in the second leg of the League Cup semi-finals, provided he gets international clearance and a work permit done in time. Let's explore the finer details of the Anfield outing.
Contents
What number will Tel wear for Tottenham?
The 19-year-old will wear the number 11 shirt after joining Spurs on a six-month loan deal, which has a buy option believed to be worth £45.7 million.
The Frenchman's shirt number at Bayern was 39. The versatile forward pushed for a move away from Munich due to limited first-team opportunities under Vincent Kompany.
The lower shirt number at his new club itself suggests he is anticipated to play a more prominent role under Ange Postecoglou.
Tel is taking Bryan Gil's shirt number 11 for the remainder of the season, with the young Spanish winger currently on loan at Girona.
Who will Tel play alongside on his Tottenham debut?
Spurs' headline-grabbing acquisition is capable of playing on the left flank and through the middle as a striker. Accordingly, he is likely to compete with Heung-min Son and Richarlison for minutes.
Tel should start his Spurs journey as a striker, which isn't going to be that tough considering Richarlison has been an underwhelming number nine option for Postecoglou, having managed just two Premier League goals this term.
Accordingly, he would play alongside Son in attack in the Australian's 4-3-3 setup.
Tel, akin to the South Korean winger, likes to make runs in behind the defence. However, the French talent is technically capable of dropping deep and linking up with his midfielders too, so expect Son to keep making those runs from the channels.
Tel Tottenham debut to end in victory?
Spurs did plenty of hard work to convince Tel to join their project however it's tough to see Postecoglou starting the youngster in the crucial clash against Liverpool within days of his arrival. The Lilywhites face Arne Slot's men on Thursday night.
Tottenham head into the second leg of the Carabao Cup with a 1-0 lead. However, considering the two sides' form, Liverpool still appear to be the favourites to progress. Indeed, whether they reach the final or not, the Merseysiders are the expected winners of this game, with an implied probability of 80% in their favour at the bookies.
Their last encounter in the Premier League saw the Reds score six past Spurs in their 6-3 triumph. Tel might be introduced later in the game if Spurs find themselves trailing.
