Chelsea are monitoring the situation of Mathys Tel at Borussia Dortmund. The 17-year-old winger is unhappy with his lack of game time and may seriously consider his future if his status within Nico Kovac's squad doesn't improve.
Tel is regarded as one of the most promising talents to emerge from Dortmund's academy, often drawing comparisons with Christian Pulisic — primarily due to his American nationality and rapid rise into senior football.
He made his first-team debut back in April and was fully integrated into Kovac's squad over the summer.
However, this season has not unfolded as the young star had hoped.
His only appearance for the senior side came in the DFB-Pokal against fifth-tier side HEBC Hamburg, with no minutes on the pitch in the Bundesliga or Champions League as of yet.
In stark contrast, his international career is on the rise. During the latest international break, Tel featured in four matches for the USA national team — double the number of games he has played at club level so far.
According to Sky Germany, this frustrating situation is starting to irritate the midfielder.
While he is not demanding a starting spot, Tel anticipated more playing time after being promised a clear pathway into the first team last spring.
Interest from top clubs in the player has existed for some time now.
This past summer, PSG were keen to sign him, while in January both Chelsea and Manchester City were ready to consider a deal worth around €20 million.
No formal offers materialised at that time, however, as Dortmund made it clear they did not intend to sell the player.
Fresh inquiries regarding Tel surfaced over the summer, and his current predicament might attract further attention from potential suitors as January approaches.
However, a transfer to the Premier League this winter seems unlikely since Tel won't turn 18 until May.
The main challenge for the player lies in his lack of a clear role in Kovac’s system.
Last spring, Dortmund planned to use traditional wingers more often, but later opted not to overhaul the squad's structure, sticking to their established playing style.
As a result, Tel has found himself effectively alone as the only traditional winger in the first team, with the current formation offering little scope for his position.
To gain more minutes, he may have to adapt to playing as a number ten or significantly enhance his defensive contributions to play as a wing-back.
Chelsea's interest certainly makes sense. The club already signed Pulisic from Dortmund and is keen to develop connections with the American market.
The Londoners have also secured deals for young Americans Benji Flowers and Vicente Garcia and continue to scout for other talents from the States.
For now, this is merely a long-standing interest and observation. However, if Tel fails to secure a stable role at Dortmund, the prospect of a summer exit could become much more serious.
