{"id":261490,"date":"2026-09-07T19:40:11","date_gmt":"2026-09-07T19:40:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/09\/07\/de-zerbi-can-officially-end-tels-spurs-career-by-unleashing-a-dele-regen\/"},"modified":"2026-09-07T19:40:11","modified_gmt":"2026-09-07T19:40:11","slug":"de-zerbi-can-officially-end-tels-spurs-career-by-unleashing-a-dele-regen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/09\/07\/de-zerbi-can-officially-end-tels-spurs-career-by-unleashing-a-dele-regen\/","title":{"rendered":"De Zerbi can officially end Tel’s Spurs career by unleashing a Dele regen"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Tottenham Hotspur<\/a> may have spent the best part of \u00a3300m this summer but they just love 17th place so much that they’ve decided to plonk themselves there again.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

We jest, of course, but after back-to-back campaigns finishing in that exact spot in the Premier League<\/a>, it’s the position they occupy once again at the start of 2026\/27.<\/p>\n

This wasn’t in the script, not one bit. Roberto De Zerbi was meant to carry Spurs out of the rubble of last term. He may still do that but on first impressions, it’s not looking great.<\/p>\n

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\n <\/picture>REUTERS\/Matthew Childs<\/small><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Still, with a wave of new signings, it should get better. One man who should be feeling the pressure of that is Mathys Tel<\/a>. He has not started the season too well.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n Why it’s time for De Zerbi to drop Mathys Tel<\/strong>
\n <\/h2>\n

After scoring just four goals for Tottenham last term, the Frenchman needed to come good this time around. In pre-season, he certainly looked like a new player.<\/p>\n

Were supporters going to finally see the best of Tel? Well, he scored a cracking free-kick against Sydney FC and registered a further three assists throughout pre-season.<\/p>\n

He was captivating over the summer. His dribbling was immense; he struck fear into many a full-back. The way in which he supplied both of Mikey Moore’s goal against Hoffenheim was first-class.<\/p>\n

Yet, with the new season here, he has reverted to type. He does not look like the flying winger who dazzled just a month ago. He looks like the player who struggled under Thomas Frank and then Igor Tudor to really make an impact.<\/p>\n

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\"Mathys\n <\/picture>Reuters\/Andrew Boyers<\/small><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Tel is yet to register a goal involvement this term and his performances in recent weeks where he was subbed off on the 68th minute against Newcastle and in the 74th minute against Nottingham Forest spoke volumes.<\/p>\n

The 21-year-old turned into an overnight meme after a dire free-kick against the Toon flew high, wide and not very handsome.<\/p>\n

It did not get much better at Forest. The forward did leave the field with the most touches (10) in the opposition box but he didn’t have a single shot, completed just 43% of his dribbles and only created one chance. What’s more, he won just four of his 13 duels.<\/p>\n

In one-v-one situations, the young winger is a threat but his overall output is far too low for a team looking to push on this season. He has to be replaced.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n How Spurs can solve their Mathys Tel problem<\/strong>
\n <\/h2>\n

Tottenham clearly wanted an upgrade this season. They went as far as to agree personal terms with Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo before he ultimately stayed at Anfield.<\/p>\n

Iliman Ndiaye was on the verge of moving to north London in a \u00a360m deal only for Manchester City to hijack matters in the final few days of the transfer window.<\/p>\n

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\"Iliman-Ndiaye-Manchester-City\"\n <\/picture>REUTERS\/Phil Noble<\/small><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

So, Spurs eventually ended up with Mykhailo Mudryk, a player who until Saturday had not played a game of competitive football in over 20 months having tested positive for the banned substance meldonium.<\/p>\n

Yet, with such a lack of football under his belt, to expect Mudryk to hit the ground running immediately would be foolish.<\/p>\n

De Zerbi does have other solutions. Mohammed Kudus or Savinho could both play off the left, as could fellow new signing Omar Marmoush. However, what about a certain Luca Williams-Barnett?<\/p>\n

Alongside Tel, he was one of the stars of pre-season for the Lilywhites. While he made a fleeting first-team appearance last term, this was the first real sighter fans had of the youngster at senior level.<\/p>\n

He was simply exceptional. Spellbinding in possession of the ball, Williams-Barnett brings all of the dribbling ability that Tel has but combines it was flair, technical security and elegance and importantly, goal contributions.<\/p>\n

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\"luca-williams-barnett-tottenham\"\n <\/picture>REUTERS\/Hollie Adams<\/small><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Just 17 years of age, much has been made of the teenager over the last year. Billed as Tottenham’s answer to Max Dowman, he’s also a player with “shades of Dele<\/a>” in the view of GOAL journalist Sean Walsh. That’s incredibly exciting.<\/p>\n

Last term, the young forward was in jaw-dropping form, scoring 16 goals in 20 games, assisting a further eight on top of that. He’s certainly one of the most impressive starlets around right now.<\/p>\n

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Williams-Barnett by position<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n

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Position<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

\n

Games<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

\n

Goals + assists<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

CAM<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

31<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

23 + 19<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

CM<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

5<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

8 + 1<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

LW<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

5<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1 + 0<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

RW<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

3<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1 + 1<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

CF<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2 + 0<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n

Williams-Barnett proved that over the course of pre-season. He scored in Spurs’ last game with Hoffenheim while starting on the left wing and caught the eye significantly across other matches, notably the matches against MK Dons and Auckland FC.<\/p>\n

In that game against MK, he came on at half-time and played as a deep-lying midfielder. He made a remarkable impact in such a short space of time. No player in that game created more chances (3). No player completed more dribbles either (2). He attempted six in total.<\/p>\n

A game later the teen started and made another big impact, albeit without registering a goal involvement. The academy graduate had five shots; he was a big threat.<\/p>\n

The confidence this youngster exudes is just remarkable. He even scored a panenka penalty in the post-game shootout against Sydney FC.<\/p>\n

For years, Tel was billed as one of the most vibrant young forwards around but he’s failed ever really kick on. Williams-Barnett looks like he’s ready to, however, and it surely won’t be long before he’s earning minutes ahead of the Frenchman.<\/p>\n

Together with Mudryk, they could combine to make Tel a redundant figure in this Tottenham side.<\/p>\n