The January transfer window is heating up as Premier League clubs Chelsea and Aston Villa make moves to bolster their squads for the second half of the season. In a significant development, Chelsea have initiated contact with Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich over a potential transfer for promising young French forward Mathys Tel.
Chelsea Inquire About Mathys Tel
Sources indicate that Chelsea expressed interest in the 19-year-old striker last summer and are now exploring the feasibility of bringing him to Stamford Bridge in the current window. Tel, a France Under-21 international, is seen as a top prospect with immense potential.
While Tel has struggled to find the back of the net consistently for Bayern this season, his performances last term, which yielded 7 goals, have kept him on the radar of top clubs. Chelsea are now awaiting a signal from the Bavarian club on whether a January deal could be struck.
Nkunku and Veiga Could Make Way
As Chelsea push for Tel, the future of some of their current stars hangs in the balance. Christopher Nkunku, the club’s leading scorer this campaign with 13 goals across competitions, is attracting strong interest from Bayern, PSG, and other elite teams.
Meanwhile, versatile youngster Renato Veiga, who only arrived at Chelsea last summer in a £12m move from Basel, is being courted by Borussia Dortmund. The Germans are keen on an initial loan with an option to buy, but Chelsea are holding out for a permanent sale of over £20m.
Aston Villa Agree Malen Deal
In other transfer news, Aston Villa have reached an agreement with Dortmund for Dutch international forward Donyell Malen. The deal is believed to be worth an initial £20m, with Malen set to become manager Unai Emery’s first signing of the January window.
Dortmund have announced that Malen will miss Tuesday’s Bundesliga trip to Holstein Kiel to hold “talks with another club”.
Emery is an admirer of Malen’s versatility across the front line and sees him as an important addition to Villa’s attacking options. The 24-year-old has netted 5 goals in 21 appearances for Dortmund this term and boasts 41 caps for the Netherlands.
Other Transfer Rumblings
- West Ham eye Awoniyi: David Moyes’ Hammers have added Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi to their list of attacking targets as they seek cover for injured star Niclas Füllkrug. Forest are demanding £20m for the Nigerian international.
- Hennessey returns to Forest: Veteran goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey has rejoined Nottingham Forest on a short-term deal until the end of the season, providing depth behind Matz Sels and Carlos Miguel.
As the January transfer deadline looms, expect plenty more twists and turns in the market. With clubs jostling to secure key signings and offload surplus talent, the next few weeks promise to be action-packed for football fans worldwide.