Tottenham's Tel Dilemma Deepens as Frank's Future Casts Long Shadow

The unrest at Tottenham is reaching boiling point, and it centres on Mathys Tel's mounting discontent. The French forward arrived on loan from Bayern Munich during last winter's window with an option to buy for roughly £50m, before Spurs exercised a permanent deal come summer for a significantly reduced £30m fee.

Yet Tel's North London adventure has proven a rather underwhelming affair. Six goals and two assists across 40 appearances tells you something, but the real story lies in his Premier League involvement this term—just six starts from the bench-warming variety. Thomas Frank, it seems, simply doesn't fancy him.

Things came to a head when Tel found himself axed from Tottenham's Champions League squad entirely. The decision to make room for Dominic Solanke left the striker and his representatives absolutely seething, according to reports. A Champions League omission is a particularly stinging rejection for any player harbouring top-flight ambitions.

Roma are circling, with Serie A sources suggesting the Italian giants see an opportunity to land a disgruntled talent. Yet here's the catch: Tel's exit hinges entirely on Frank's own job security. With Spurs languishing in 14th place and Frank widely tipped as the next Premier League manager to receive his marching orders, any prospective suitor must wait for clarity on whether the boss will even be in situ come February.

Tuesday's Champions League victory against Borussia Dortmund offered a temporary reprieve from the pressure cooker, but it hardly feels like a game-changer for Frank's tenure.

On the recruitment front, Spurs are casting their net elsewhere. West Ham's Crysencio Summerville has emerged as a potential target, with the club exploring the possibility of bringing the winger to N17. Summerville made the jump from Leeds United to East London for around £25m and has performed respectably for the Hammers this season, though whether he's quite ready for a Big Six step up remains debatable.

The logic is clear enough: if Spurs can land Summerville to address their left-wing issues following Son Heung-min's departure, they could grant Tel the loan move he's apparently desperate for. It's a neat solution to multiple problems at once—provided, of course, that Frank is still around to orchestrate it all.