More stories

  • in

    Tottenham ‘agree £50million Mathys Tel transfer’ but Bayern star now set to choose between Premier League clubs

    TOTTENHAM have reportedly agreed a £50million fee for Bayern Munich’s Mathys Tel.Spurs had originally been tracking the 19-year-old striker for a potential loan deal this January.Tottenham have reportedly agreed a fee with Bayern for Mathys TelCredit: RexBut reports in France suggest the Premier League club have agreed a fee with the Bundesliga giants.Tel must now make a decision on whether to swap Munich for North London, according to L’Equipe. But Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea are all reportedly interested in bringing him to England. Tel was a wonderkid at Rennes, where he became the Ligue 1 side’s youngest-ever player in 2021. READ MORE ON FOOTBALLHe earned a big-money move to Bayern a year later, but has played a bit-part role this season. The teenager has been plagued by injuries, resulting in just 8 appearances and no goals in 2024/25. Tel is contracted at the Allianz Arena until 2029. But he is looking for regular minutes after a stuttering campaign, with Tottenham desperate for a versatile forward.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSTel, blessed with electric pace, can play anywhere along the front three.Spurs have been dogged by an injury crisis, with boss Ange Postecoglou clinging on to his job after a weekend loss to Leicester.Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou shows his dissagpointment after defeat to Leicester Tottenham have also been linked with Yoane Wissa from Brentford.Foot Mercato claims talks are underway and that Spurs have contacted Wissa to express their interest.The 28-year-old has been vital for the Bees since his arrival from Lorient in 2021.THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY..The Sun is your go to destination for the best football, boxing and MMA news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video.Like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TheSunFootball and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSunFootball. More

  • in

    Meet Mathys Tel, the teenage prodigy dubbed the ‘next Anelka’ who is sparking transfer scramble by Premier League clubs

    MATHYS TEL is Bayern Munich’s record-breaking French prodigy who could be on the move to the Premier League. Manchester United, Chelsea and Tottenham have been circling around the 19-year-old whizkid, with Blues fans even hailing him as the next Nicolas Anelka. Bayern Munich forward Mathys Tel may be on the move to the Premier League in the transfer windowThe youngster wants out from Bayern in this transfer window, with him sitting on the bench in the club’s last three games. And since Michael Olise’s arrival, Tel has made just seven Bundesliga appearances this season – with two of them being starts. Chelsea are reportedly ready to loan Christopher Nkunku as part of a deal to land Tel, with a fee of £58million being mooted. Man Utd and Spurs are said to be interested, as are Arsenal, with Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus injured.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLThe next Nicholas Anelka According to BILD, Tel has made it clear that he doesn’t want to go to Chelsea – because the competition for places there is just as big as in Munich. But Tel does want to move away from Bavaria because he is hungry for game time. That will be a major blow to Chelsea fans’ dreams of landing the next Anelka. One supporter wrote on X: “When I see Tel, I see a young Anelka.”Most read in FootballSUN BINGO GET £50 BONUS & 50 FREE SPINS TODAYNicolas Anelka starred for Chelsea during his spell in West LondonCredit: PA:Empics SportTurns out the teenager has previously shared how he idolises the former Blues striker. When asked why he wears the number 39, Tel said: “Because I already had it at Rennes and also because Nicolas Anelka wore it. I like Anelka, he was a really good player.”Man Utd stars hit Ruben Amorim as he runs birthday gauntlet in training… and is left holding his backRetired French ace Anelka, who played at Chelsea between 2008-2012, won the Premier League, FA Cup twice and Community Shield as a Blues player. Where it all began Tel was born in a Northern suburb of Paris called Sarcelles, playing as a youngster for local clubs Villiers Le Bel, Paris FC, ASJ Aubervilliers and Montrouge FC as well as spending time at the renowned Clairefontaine academy. Tel actually started out as a centre-back but it soon became clear that he would be better used as a forward due to his exceptional dribbling and finishing skills. As a fresh-faced 15-year-old he signed for Rennes, where he went on a meteoric rise. In August 2021, Tel became the youngest player ever to turn out for Rennes when he came on for the final five minutes of their 1-1 draw at Brest. He was just 16-years, three-months and 19-days-old when he made his competitive debut and was already 6ft tall. Tel was captain of the France U17 team when they lifted the Euros trophy in Israel in the summer of 2022. The forward played a key role in the push towards Euros glory, with three goals and an assist in the group stage before scoring in penalty shootout wins over Germany and Portugal. He lifted the trophy as captain following a 2-1 success against the Netherlands in the final on 1 June.Tel burst onto the scene as a 16-year-old at RennesCredit: GettyRecord breaker Tel is already a record-breaker, after becoming Bayern’s youngest-ever goalscorer when at 17-years-old and 126-days he was on target in his side’s 5-0 DFB Cup triumph against Viktoria Cologne in August 2022. He beat the club’s previous record holder, Jamal Musiala (17 years, 205 days).It didn’t take long for him to then make his full Bundesliga debut against VfB Stuttgart on 10 September, toasting the occasion with his first top-flight goal.The Frenchman got off to a blinding start to last season, with five goals in his first eight games as Thomas Tuchel showed faith. He laid down a huge marker, notching an impressive two goals – both match-winners, against Manchester United and Copenhagen – and one assist in eight Champions League matches. The glittering campaign prompted Bayern to extend his contract through to 2029. Tel quickly made an impact upon his 2022 Bayern switchCredit: GettyHigh praise His Bayern team-mate Thomas Muller said: “You can see that he wants to score goals – that’s a great quality. “Thinking back to when Arjen Robben was playing, we used to think he should have been looking for the pass, but he was so focused on scoring and he scored a lot. “Mathys should keep doing his thing: firing shots in on goal. He’s a superb finisher.”He’s only 18 and is making the most of it at the moment. He’s always positive, always has a smile on his face and has great finishing in training and in matches.”Former Bayern boss Julian Nagelsmann added: “He’s a very young, talented player who can play different positions. “He’s very quick, strong with his body. He’s good at defending the ball with his back towards the opponent’s goal… I have the vision that he could score 40 goals [in a season like Robert Lewandowski] one day in the future.”Thomas Muller is among those to have offered high praise of TelCredit: GettyWho would he suit?Having initially played up top for Bayern during the 2022-23 campaign, Tel has mostly been selected on the wing in the years since.A right-footed forward, Tel likes to drift into an inside-left position.At Chelsea he would likely come up against the likes of Jadon Sancho, Pedro Neto, Joao Felix and Nicolas Jackson for minutes, so may not get the regular game time that he craves.Man Utd may be a good landing spot, although the Red Devils may have to flog one of Marcus Rashford or Alejandro Garnacho to make the deal happen.Tottenham, meanwhile, could almost certainly offer the game time, having been crippled by injuries this season.READ MORE SUN STORIESAnge Postecoglou’s side are still fighting on four fronts, which would give Tel plenty of opportunities to shine.Attackers Dominic Solanke, Timo Werner, Brennan Johnson and Wilson Odobert are all missing through injury, while Son Heung-min and Richarlison will need their minutes carefully managed – although Spurs are also claimed to be trying to sign Brentford’s Yoane Wissa. More

  • in

    Harry Kane could be robbed of Champions League fairytale by Bayern Munich’s biggest downfall, fears ex-England star

    HARRY KANE could be robbed of a Champions League fairytale this year unless Bayern Munich learn to defend better, according to Owen Hargreaves.This season’s final will be staged at Munich’s Allianz Arena on Saturday May 31, 2025.Harry Kane looks on while playing for Bayern MunichCredit: GettyThe last time the Bavaria venue held the showpiece occasion was back in 2012 but Munich lost on penalties that night to a Didier Drogba-inspired Chelsea.The Bundesliga leaders are in 15th place in the expanded 36-team Champions League table, having conceded 11 goals in seven games, including three at Feyenoord last week.While England captain and Munich striker Kane, 31, could fire them through the knockout phases, their defence is clearly an issue and needs tightening up under new boss Vincent Kompany.Hargreaves, 44, played for seven seasons in the Munich first team and was in the starting XI when they beat Valencia on penalties at Milan’s San Siro in the 2001 Champions League final.READ MORE IN football Speaking on behalf of TNT Sports to promote watching live sport in pubs, the ex-England midfielder said: “It’s that old adage in American sports – defence wins championships.“I think it’s true. You have got to defend well.“Bayern are easily one of the most talented teams in the competition. Possession-wise, shots-wise, they are right at the top.“But the only problem is they play such an aggressive style. They press really aggressively.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS“We saw it in their defeat against Aston Villa at Villa Park. We saw in the 3-0 loss at Feyenoord. There is space if you play quickly over the top, to counter them.“I don’t think I have ever seen a team win the Champions League being that open at the back.Kris Boyd says common sense has prevailed after Mohamed Diomande won his red card appeal“Even Pep Guardiola, with the brilliant football he plays, had to evolve to win the Champions League and played with four centre backs.“Bayern could win it but they have got to be a bit tidier at the back.“Bayern approach the game now under Kompany in a super aggressive way, and they score goals.”Hargreaves – a European football analyst for TNT Sports – joined Bayern as a 16-year-old and won four league titles before moving to Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson in 2007.He added: “There’s pressure at a club like Bayern, you are expected to win every game. I am talking about literally every game. Every Saturday, every Wednesday.“They know they are not the best team in the Champions League. They proved that against Feyenoord.“Even though they have one of the most talented squads, they are not favourites. Liverpool are the favourites.“Then you’ve got Inter Milan, Real Madrid and Manchester City if they can defend better. There are a lot of teams in that bracket below Liverpool.“Bayern could do it. If they get the balance right.“It will be interesting to see if Vincent tweaks it a bit for the knockout stages.“The style puts a lot of pressure on the centre-backs, Kim (Min-jae) and (Dayot) Upamecano, to get it right all of the time.READ MORE SUN STORIES“One mistake is costly and you are out. I think they can win it if they tweak the way they are playing.”Owen Hargreaves was speaking on behalf of TNT Sports about enjoying Champions League midweek football in your local pub. To find out where you can watch, please visit tntsports.co.uk/pubfinder/Owen Hargreaves was speaking on behalf of TNT SportsCredit: C1 MEDIA More

  • in

    ‘I’m not quite sure what he was doing’ – Harry Kane and Eric Dier make Bundesliga history but striker confused by pal

    BAYERN MUNICH star Harry Kane and Eric Dier made Bundesliga history by registering a famous goal.Kane, 31, and Dier, 31, go way back as they burst onto the scene during their time at Tottenham where they played together for nine years.Bayern Munich stars Harry Kane and Eric Dier made Bundesliga history togetherCredit: GettyKane and Dier became the first ever English players to combine for a Bundesliga goalCredit: GettyNow the England duo are playing at Bayern and have proven that their chemistry is still very much alive and well.So much so that the two pals made history on Saturday’s 2-1 win at Freiburg.Kane and Dier became the first ever English players to combine for a goal in the Bundesliga since records began in the 2004-05 season.The England captain opened the scoring after just 15 minutes when the defender collected the ball on the right flank and fed his former Tottenham team-mate.Read More on FootballThe star striker poked fun at Dier during his post-match interview claiming he was confused to see him playing so far up the pitch.Kane said: “I’m not quite sure what he was doing in that position in the first place. “Me and Eric are really good friends and it’s good to see him on the pitch.”He’s not played a lot this season but whenever he’s come in he’s done really well. Eric was rock solid again [against Freiburg]. Most read in BundesligaBest new sign-up offersSunSport exclusives”I’m delighted for him that he picked up an assist and it was nice that it fell to me.”Kim Min-jae sealed the three points for Bayern just nine minutes into the second half.Erling Haaland’s salary is only ninth biggest in football with Chelsea flop Koulibaly earning more than Man City starFreiburg hit back with Matthias Ginter in the 68th minute but the visitors held on and are now top of the table with six points separating them from second-placed Bayer Leverkusen. More

  • in

    Loris Karius handed dramatic pay cut with TV presenter wife Diletta Leotta now earning more than ex-Premier League star

    LORIS KARIUS is set to earn less than TV presenter wife Diletta Leotta at Schalke, according to reports.The former Liverpool goalkeeper, 31, is attempting to resurrect his career with the second-tier German side.Loris Karius is looking to resurrect his career with SchalkeCredit: GettyKarius, 31, is married to TV presenter Diletta LeottaThe couple have been together since 2022Credit: The Mega AgencyKarius has barely played in recent years, making just two appearances since February 2021.Remarkably, one of these outings came in Newcastle’s 2023 Carabao Cup defeat to Manchester United, while the other was in a Premier League loss to Arsenal.The German had been without a club since leaving St James’ Park earlier this season.But this month he pulled the gloves back on, signing for Schalke until the end of the season.READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWSAccording to German paper Bild, Karius has signed, by elite football standards, a modest contract.They claim that he will receive around £125,000 between now and the end of the season, equating to approximately £5,700 a week.Schalke’s higher earners, for example, are said to pocket around £10k a week.Bild add that Karius’ wife Leotta earns around £840k a year for her presenting work, as DAZN’s lead Serie A host in Italy.Most read in BundesligaSUN BINGO GET £50 BONUS & 50 FREE SPINS TODAYLeotta recently took part in the Club World Cup draw ceremonyCredit: EPAThe Italian is DAZN’s lead Serie A presenterCredit: GettyThis means that she will pocket significantly more than Karius.Leotta is not set to move to Germany with Karius, instead staying in Milan. Glam presenter Diletta Leotta shows off underboob in tiny black dress as fans call Prem Wag ‘magnetic attraction’The former Champions League finalist is said to be living with a friend in Dusseldorf.Karius is optimistic about revitalising his career back in Germany.Upon signing, he said: “I had very good discussions with the Schalke officials and I’m looking forward to training with the team.”Schalke 04 is a big club with passionate fans, I’ve always felt that at my games in the arena.”Karius will not automatically become Schalke’s No1.He will compete with current incumbent Justin Heekeren for the position.READ MORE SUN STORIESThe former Anfield stopper has been with Leotta since 2022, with the pair welcoming their first child in August of the following year.They wed in a private ceremony in Sicily last summer.Karius and Leotta wed in Sicily last summerCredit: INSTAGRAMThe happy couple welcomed their first child in 2023Credit: The Mega AgencyLeotta shares many glam pics across her social media channelsCredit: Instagram @dilettaleotta More

  • in

    Meet ‘Austrian Ange Postecoglou’ leading Hoffenheim to brink of relegation as ‘Doctor Tottenham’ face perfect patient

    WHAT is German for ‘Dr Tottenham will see you now?’That self-deprecating phrase is used by Spurs fans to poke fun at themselves when their team somehow lose to a side in hopeless form.’Dr Tottenham’ have treated Crystal Palace, Ipswich and Everton already this seasonCredit: GettyPressure is building on Ange Postecoglou as he faces calls for the sackCredit: GettyChristian Ilzer is also having a nightmare at HoffenheimCredit: GettyThey wheeled it out after Crystal Palace earned their first win of the season against their side on October 27, and then again following November’s shock home defeat to winless Ipswich.Need to find a win from nowhere? Doctor Tottenham’s office, please.Expect a repeat prescription if boss Ange Postecoglou’s walking wounded come a cropper at Hoffenheim tomorrow.Because if you think Spurs’ season has been a nightmare, take a look at how Thursday’s Europa League opponents have been faring.READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWSChristian Ilzer’s side have managed only seven victories from their 27 games in all competitions this season.Rival fans may be having a good laugh at Spurs’ perilous league state right now.But few believe they will actually be relegated — although the same cannot be said for Hoffenheim.The Germans were winless in nine, having netted just THREE times in those fixtures, before Saturday’s much-needed 3-1 victory at drop-zone rivals Holstein Kiel.Most read in Europa LeagueBest new sign-up offersSunSport exclusivesThey are three points above the Bundesliga dotted line after that huge win in their six-pointer, which came off the back of an epic X-rated rant from club stalwart striker Andrej Kramaric.The 33-year-old, in his tenth season at Hoffenheim, blasted after last Wednesday’s 5-0 pasting at Harry Kane’s Bayern Munich: “This is one big, s*** season, I’m going to be honest. The rise and fall of Ange Postecoglou as Spurs boss“And I’m still soft because if I want to say the truth and some things which are on my mind about the club and the situation, probably I will get the biggest punishment in the history of the Bundesliga.”England fans may remember Kramaric from the heartbreaking World Cup semi-final loss to Croatia in 2018, with the forward coming on in extra-time.He also netted the opener when Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions exacted some revenge with a 2-1 win in the Nations League a few months later. Three years before that the 102-cap forward had a brief stint at Leicester — including during their historic title-winning campaign — but if you blinked, you may have missed it.Brought in for £9.5million from Rijeka in January 2015, there was a four-game period a month later when he was keeping Foxes legend Jamie Vardy out of the team — but it did not last.He ended up with just three goals in the second half of that season, then was frozen out by boss Claudio Ranieri in the next, unforgettable season.Kramaric made only two league appearances during the campaign in which Leicester shocked the world, both off the bench, leaving him well short of the required ten to win a medal.That January he was shipped off on loan to Julian Nagelsmann’s Hoffenheim — and has stayed there ever since. Andrej Kramaric had a brief stint at LeicesterCredit: Action ImagesHe was shipped out by Claudio Ranieri during the title-winning seasonCredit: Getty – ContributorKramaric has enjoyed European football — including the Champions League — in almost half of his seasons at the German club as a permanent player.Which explains why he is so incensed at their failings this term.His eye-catching comments went down well with frustrated fans, but less so at board level or in the dressing room.One of Kramaric’s digs was that the club “invested so much money for nothing”, after a £56m spree on eight players this term — the fifth-highest spend in the Bundesliga.Slaughtering your new team-mates and those who bought them seemed risky, yet after 309 appearances and 109 goals, clearly Kramaric felt he deserves to say his piece.None of the incomings have been hits, with defender Robin Hranac and forward Haris Tabakovic particularly poor.That was not helped by many of them being signed by an interim sporting director in Frank Kramer, stepping up briefly from his academy manager role.Former Spurs target Gift Orban arrived this month under the new recruitment team but is not deemed fit enough yet to play Ilzer’s lung-busting style of play.Similar to Postecoglou, Austrian Ilzer favours an intense pressing game and while it worked in his first game — a 4-3 win over RB Leipzig — it has been disastrous most of this season.Kramaric has threatened to go “a little harder” with his criticism if things do not pick up, which is hard to imagine given his comments so far.READ MORE SUN STORIESSo, amazingly, Hoffenheim are in even more of a mess than Spurs going into tonight’s clash.But as any travelling fans up with the Deutsch lingo might say, ‘Doktor Tottenham wird Sie jetzt empfangen’.Kramaric has enjoyed plenty of success at HoffenheimCredit: EPAHe let rip in an astonishing outburst about the clubCredit: ESPNKramaric was part of the Croatia team that knocked England out of the 2018 World Cup semi-finalsCredit: AFP or licensors More

  • in

    Angry Premier League flop says ‘I’ll probably get biggest fine in Bundesliga history’ as he swears in live TV interview

    HOFFENHEIM star Andrej Kramaric lashed out on live TV as he delivered a furious expletive-laden tirade following a humiliating loss to Bayern Munich.Bayern won 5-0 in the Bundesliga on Wednesday at the Allianz Arena after a brace by Leroy Sane and goals by Raphael Guerreiro, Serge Gnbabry and England captain Harry Kane.Hoffenheim star Andrej Kramaric delivered a furious rant on live TVCredit: ESPNThat was after Hoffenheim’s humiliating 5-0 loss to Bayern MunichCredit: ESPNKramaric, 33, was enraged after the final whistle and didn’t hold back during his post-match interview.And the ex-Leicester striker used X-rated language during a sensational rant in which he targeted club chiefs.The Croatia international also claimed he was actually being polite because if he said what he truly thought he would be slapped with “biggest punishment in the history of the Bundesliga”.This comes amid Hoffenheim’s tremendous woes that have seen them dropping to 16th place and fighting for survival in the Bundesliga.Read More on FootballKramaric told ESPN: “I don’t even want to talk about the game because for me it was clear that this was going to happen. “This is the picture of the whole season, this is one big s**t season, I’m going to be honest. “And I’m still soft because if I want to say the truth and some things which are on my mind about the club and the situation, probably I will get the biggest punishment in the history of the Bundesliga. “We invest so much money for nothing, and there’s no point to even talk about today’s game. Most read in FootballBest new sign-up offersSunSport exclusives”I just want to talk about the current situation because it’s dangerous that we could be relegated with good players but obviously nothing is working since something has changed in the club. “First of all, thanks to the fans, who supported us from the beginning of the season. They understand everything that is happening and that we are going through a really hard phase. Erling Haaland’s salary is only ninth biggest in football with Chelsea flop Koulibaly earning more than Man City star”It’s the first time in my life, in my football career, that I feel like this because I feel a big s**t in the club. If nobody’s going to change this I will try to change this. “Today I may be soft but when the time comes I am going to be a little harder because we could be relegated.”When I start to talk everybody’s going to listen. You can feel my voice. The people from Zuzenhausen, Sinsheim and all around Germany who are supporting Hoffenheim… “I think the fans understand what is happening, it’s not an unlucky moment.”Who are these famous footballers? More

  • in

    Chelsea ‘offer Christopher Nkunku in swap transfer for Bayern Munich’s 19-year-old sensation Mathys Tel’

    CHELSEA have offered Christopher Nkunku in a sensational swap deal for Bayern Munich ace Mathys Tel.The Blues have been keeping tabs on £40million-rated Tel, 19, since last summer.Chelsea continue to monitor Bayern Munich ace Mathys TelCredit: GettyChelsea have offered Christopher Nkunku in exchange for TelCredit: AlamyAccording to The Mail, the West Londoners have made an enquiry for the winger during the January transfer window.Meanwhile, Bayern are keen to bring Nkunku, 27, back to Germany after his stunning four-year stint at RB Leipzig.And Bild reporter Christian Falk claims Chelsea have proposed a swap deal.The Premier League giants have offered the France international to Bayern in exchange for his younger compatriot.Read Moe on ChelseaTel has seen his playing time limited at the Allianz Arena with only 12 appearances across all competitions under his belt.But Bayern sporting director Christoph Freund insists the club want to hold on to the France Under-21 international.Freund said: “Mathys is a great talent and should play an important role for us.“Our clear goal is for Mathys to make his breakthrough with us. Of course if a player is unhappy, we can talk about it. But we are very happy with him”.Most read in FootballBest new sign-up offersSunSport exclusivesNkunku, on the other hand, hasn’t been able to cement a place in Enzo Maresca’s starting line-up with Nicolas Jackson and Cole Palmer proving to be more clinical.The versatile forward has only scored two goals in 18 Premier League appearances.Chelsea clash with Shamrock Rovers temporarily stopped as Christopher Nkunku pelted with TOILET ROLLHowever, the Frenchman has amassed a total of 13 goals and four assists in 28 appearances across all competitions.Chelsea, though, are keeping their options open as it’s often hard to land major targets during the winter market.That is why club chiefs are also keeping tabs on Ipswich Town’s in-form star Liam Delap.Nevertheless, Chelsea are prioritising a centre-back with Crystal Palace star Marc Guehi posing as their top target. More