Chelsea are still fighting to secure the signature of Mathys Tel before next week's transfer deadline, football.london understands.

As reported earlier in the month, the Blues have a long-standing interest in the 19-year-old which saw them make a firm enquiry to Bayern Munich last summer. However, that was rebuffed back then - but fast-forward six months or so, and Tel has informed the Bundesliga leaders he wants to leave the club before the transfer window closes.

Max Eberl, Bayern's sporting director, said this on Wednesday evening, confirming Tel's desire to depart from the Allianz Arena: "He has said he would like to leave. Now we have to think about whether we will do it and what we will do."

READ MORE: Harry Kane and Thomas Tuchel hand Chelsea Mathys Tel transfer boost with unwanted tag

READ MORE: Premier League rules will block dream Chelsea transfer as decision made

Even before the news of Tel's plan to leave came out, Chelsea had held talks with Bayern over a possible move for the teenager. Sources confirmed to football.london earlier in the month that Chelsea would have no hesitation in making the German club an offer should they receive any indication that they would let the winger leave.

The Blues have been exploring their options on the left wing with Mykhailo Mudryk currently unavailable after the FA suspended the Ukraine international on a provisional basis following a failed drugs test last month. Chelsea have expressed an interest in Manchester United's Alejandro Garnacho, and while a move for the Argentine is not out of the equation, speculation over a deal being struck has calmed down in recent days.

With Tel now available, Chelsea are set to switch their attention to persuading the Frenchman, who is yet to make an appearance at senior level for Les Bleus, that Stamford Bridge is the best place for him to further his career. By the sounds of it, Tel is exactly the sort of player Chelsea should be targeting.

Speaking to Bundesliga's official website just over 12 months ago, Tel was asked to explain where he feels his most impactful position on the pitch is. He responded with: "I'm somewhere between a No.9 and a left winger. I can also play on the right, but I am more comfortable as a striker and on the left."

At the moment, Enzo Maresca has Jadon Sancho as his go-to man on the left wing with Mudryk unavailable. Pedro Neto can also play on the left-hand side but Maresca has said on multiple occasions that he sees the Portuguese as a right winger, competing with Noni Madueke for a place in the starting line-up.

Joao Felix has also been used out there, as has Christopher Nkunku, but Maresca views both as No.10s; unfortunately for them, behind Cole Palmer in the pecking order. Tel can also play as a No.9, which would be very helpful for the Blues at the moment, who have something of an overreliance on Nicolas Jackson to lead the line.

Tel, though, has spent most of his time at Bayern on the left wing rather than as the central striker. This season, however, has been a bit of a slow one for the teenage talent, who is yet to get off the mark in terms of goals. Tel has featured 14 times under Vincent Kompany in all competitions this term, but only four of them have been from the start - accumulating a total of 458 minutes.

In the 2023/24 campaign, it was a lot more productive for the young Frenchman. Tel played 41 games in all competitions for Bayern, scoring 10 goals and assisting six times in the process. Out of his 10 goals, six of them came from coming off the bench.