After turning down the chance to join Tottenham Hotspur as recently as Friday, few would have anticipated Mathys Tel arriving at the club's Hotspur Way training ground on deadline day.

But after an image of him and his agent aboard a private jet went viral shortly after 2pm on Monday afternoon, it looked as though the deal had been revived, much to the frustration and disappointment of many Manchester United supporters.

As reported by the Manchester Evening News on Sunday, Tel, alongside Chelsea ace Christopher Nkunku, was being considered by the Reds as an option to strengthen their attacking options ahead of the window slamming shut.

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Following their decisions to allow Marcus Rashford, Ethan Wheatley and Antony on loan, United had left themselves incredibly short on attacking options. Supporters woke up on Monday morning dreaming of about a deadline day swoop for a striker.

However, it was confirmed by the Manchester Evening News just over four hours ahead of the window closing at 11pm that United would not be adding to the additions of Ayden Heaven and Patrick Dorgu, with the club looking ahead to the summer window instead.

Naturally, United supporters vented their understandable frustrations at the club's hierarchy for failing to bring in a striker that head coach Ruben Amorim is so desperately in need of. It now means the Portuguese chief must make do with Rasmus Hojlund, who is without a goal in 13 matches, and Joshua Zirkzee, who has one goal in his last 16 games, until the summer.

Netting one goal in their last 29 appearances combined, United fans can be forgiven for wondering where the goals are going to come from.

United spent a combined total of £108.5million on Hojlund and Zirkzee in back-to-back summer windows. Hojlund arrived as a raw 20-year-old and Zirkzee was signed 11 months later with a profile that did not resemble that of the seasoned goalscorer United needed.

As a result of gambling more than £100m on two players that have so far proven they are not good enough to spearhead United's attack, the Reds would have repeated that gamble, albeit on a lesser financial scale, had they have swooped for Tel.

The 19-year-old has not scored a single goal this season and has previously suggested he is not an out-and-out striker, admitting in November 2023 that he is "somewhere between a number nine and a left-winger."

As high as Tel's ceiling is considered to be, United would have been paying a loan fee based on potential, not pedigree. It has been reported elsewhere that United considered the £5m loan fee Bayern wanted to be too high.

United may have been able to get a tune out of Tel and see him score the goals they are in need of, but they were in a position where they could not afford to take yet another gamble on an unproven striker.

Tel has contributed just one assist in 14 matches for Bayern this season, last scoring in May. He has found the back of the net just twice since the beginning of April.

Of course, if Tel hits the ground running at Tottenham and scores a few goals, questions will inevitably be asked of United for allowing the opportunity to borrow the Frenchman for the second half of the season to slip through their fingers.

However, the recent gambles they have taken on Hojlund and Zirkzee mean that the next striker they sign has to be one with a proven goalscoring record that can come in, rely on his experience and hit the ground running.

It has to be said that United were never going to be able to sign a big-name, elite-level No.9 in the mid-season window amid their financial situation. It was always going to be a mission for the summer.

Nevertheless, it would have been brave to sign another striker in hope rather than expectation. United, despite their obvious need for a No.9, have made the right call on this one.