Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United are actively exploring a January deal to sign Randal Kolo Muani on loan from Paris Saint-Germain.
The Premier League clubs — alongside Serie A counterparts Juventus — have expressed an interest in recruiting the 26-year-old forward.
As things stand they are emerging as the leading contenders for one of most high-profile players likely to move during the winter transfer window.
PSG and Kolo Muani’s representatives have been made aware of the admiration, with the France international regarded by his suitors among the best versatile attackers currently on the market.
He joined the Ligue 1 champions from Eintracht Frankfurt in the summer of 2023 for €90million but game time has been limited and, given he is under contract until 2028, it should benefit all parties for the forward to be playing regularly.
Kolo Muani moved to PSG after scoring 23 goals in 46 appearances during his debut season in Germany.
However, his first season at the Parc des Princes produced just six Ligue 1 goals in 26 outings. Kolo Muani has featured 14 times in all competitions for the club this season, providing two goals and an assist.
The striker joined Frankfurt on a free transfer from Nantes in 2022 following the expiration of his contract, having scored 23 times in 87 appearances for the Ligue 1 side.
Kolo Muani has been capped 27 times by France at senior international level, scoring eight goals, and was part of Didier Deschamps’ squad at the 2022 World Cup and 2024 European Championship.
GO DEEPER
Why do Tottenham want him?
Analysis from Jack Pitt-Brooke
It has been clear all season that Tottenham are lacking up front. Dominic Solanke has hit the ground running since his arrival from Bournemouth, and Brennan Johnson has improved on last season’s output.
But with Son Heung-min and Timo Werner having difficult seasons, and with Richarlison and Wilson Odobert out injured, Spurs have been short of options in the front line.
The same players have had to play game after game, with diminishing returns. Which is why it would be so attractive to have a new player come in with the experience of Kolo Muani, who can play across the front line, score goals and help the team.
He could offer some of what Richarlison offers, but perhaps with more reliability.
What about Manchester United?
Analysis from Laurie Whitwell
Manchester United looked hard at Kolo Muani when surveying the market for a striker in Erik ten Hag’s second summer. Ultimately they went for Rasmus Hojlund due to age, profile and price, with Ten Hag casting influence, but Kolo Muani made the final two.
Hojlund arrived for £72m, with Muani going to PSG for a shade more, but United scouts have kept tabs on him.
The issues around Marcus Rashford mean his return is shrouded in uncertainty, with Ruben Amorim wanting more firepower in any case. United have scored 23 goals in 20 Premier League games, off the back of hitting 57, 58, and 57 goals in the past three full seasons.
Kolo Muani’s tactical flexibility — playing up top or on the wings — makes him an appealing addition in Amorim’s system.
And Juventus?
Analysis from James Horncastle
Juventus’ attack ranks sixth in Serie A at the moment. Dusan Vlahovic has only scored twice in the league since the beginning of November. Treacle-ish chance creation is a factor as a freshly-assembled team process a philosophy overhaul under new coach Thiago Motta.
But Vlahovic is carrying the goalscoring burden alone. Juventus sold Moise Kean to Fiorentina in the summer under the misguided impression that the injury prone Arkadiusz Milik would be back to serve as cover for the Serb. Milik, however, can’t even be considered a ghost. There have been no sightings, no fleeting apparitions.
Kolo Muani could take the load off Vlahovic and Motta’s past with PSG, where he retains good favour with Nasser Al Khelaifi, could put Juventus at an advantage in negotiations. The priority, though, at least according to head of football operations Cristiano Giuntoli, is to bolster a defence depleted by ACL tears to Gleison Bremer and Juan Cabal.
(Top photo: Franco Arland/Getty Images)