Man United handed shock Mathys Tel transfer green light after unexpected U-turn and £51m agreement

The future of Mathys Tel looks set to dominate the final days of the January transfer window. As Bayern Munich look to find a new home for their versatile forward, things have already taken a handful of unexpected turns.

After Chelsea's interest was revealed earlier in the month it quickly became apparent that neither Bayern nor Tel were too keen on a move. Just one week and three games later, Tel's determination to play first team football had seen the landscape shift.

Once it became clear that the 19-year-old was not only angling for a mid-season move to get some minutes under his belt but also a permanent transfer for a new start, it didn't take long to drum up interest. As well as the natural Saudi Pro League ambition, Premier League sides flocked to stake their claim.

Manchester United joined them and are said to be more than just in the running with three days left of the window. There have been suggestions that Tel is holding out for a move to Old Trafford.

As one of France's brightest young players he is keen to head where he sees the most obvious pathway to senior opportunities. With both Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho's future in doubt, Tel could find himself extremely high up the pecking order immediately under Ruben Amorim if a deal was done.

The chances of that looked slim before United could even really get close. Suggestions of an agreement being reached between Bayern and Tottenham worth around £51million arose on Thursday.

Chelsea, Arsenal, and Aston Villa are among the teams plotting their swoop for Tel. With a permanent exit or variety of loan options still on the table, the race is open.

It has now emerged that Tel has rejected Tottenham. Following face-to-face talks with chairman Daniel