Arsenal are making progress in their pursuit of Mathys Tel, with the Bayern Munich forward open to a move to North London. The Gunners are exploring a potential loan deal for the highly-rated attacker and have received positive indications from his representatives. This development comes after Manchester United had two bids rejected, leaving them trailing in the race for his signature.
Tel, who has struggled for regular game time this season with only 252 minutes in the Bundesliga, has made it clear that he wants to leave during the current transfer window. Despite Tottenham agreeing on a £50m fee with Bayern, the 19-year-old opted against a permanent move to North London last week. His reluctance to join Spurs has increased Arsenal’s chances of securing his services on a short-term basis, with the possibility of a permanent deal in the summer still under discussion.
Arsenal’s interest in Tel comes at a crucial time as injuries to key players have left Mikel Arteta searching for reinforcements in attack. Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus are both sidelined, creating an urgent need for attacking options. Tel’s versatility makes him a particularly attractive target, as he is capable of playing in multiple positions across the forward line.
Discussions between Arsenal and Bayern are ongoing, with the structure of a potential loan move yet to be finalized. The German club remains open to allowing Tel to leave temporarily, but whether an option to buy will be included remains uncertain. Meanwhile, United’s pursuit of the French forward appears to be fading after their two recent bids were turned down. The Premier League side is in need of attacking reinforcements, particularly with Marcus Rashford edging closer to a loan move to Aston Villa. However, with Bayern standing firm on their valuation of Tel, Arsenal seems to be in a stronger position to secure the deal.
The North London club has already faced setbacks in the market, including a rejected bid for Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins. With Jhon Durán’s move to Al-Nassr finalized, Villa remains reluctant to sell their star striker, despite Arsenal’s interest. Watkins’ continued presence at Villa Park has forced Arsenal to consider other options, and Tel presents an opportunity to strengthen their attack without making an immediate long-term financial commitment.
A loan move for Tel could also allow Arsenal to wait until the summer to make a more significant attacking signing. RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko has been a long-term target, and reports suggest that a future transfer fee of around £60m has already been discussed. The Slovenian striker remains on Arsenal’s radar, but for now, securing a short-term addition like Tel appears to be the priority.
Elsewhere, Oleksandr Zinchenko’s future remains uncertain as the transfer deadline approaches. The Ukrainian left-back has attracted interest from Atlético Madrid and Borussia Dortmund, and Arsenal could sanction his departure if a suitable offer arrives. His potential exit could impact Celtic’s hopes of securing Kieran Tierney earlier than expected. The Scottish defender has already agreed to return to his former club on a free transfer at the end of the season, but any hopes of an early arrival may depend on how Arsenal reshapes their squad in the final days of the window.
With time running out in the January transfer window, Arsenal remains active in their efforts to strengthen Arteta’s squad. While a deal for Tel is not yet finalized, the club’s pursuit of the young forward signals their intent to bolster their attacking options. The coming days will be crucial as negotiations with Bayern continue, and Arsenal aims to get the deal over the line before the deadline.
