Tottenham Hotspur have been dealt a potential blow in their bid to bring Randal Kolo Muani to the Premier League next summer.
What’s the talk?
That’s according to the centre-forward’s agents, who revealed in a recent interview with German media outlet Sport 1 (via Sport Witness) that, despite a number of reports linking the 24-year-old with a move away from Eintracht Frankfurt at the end of the current campaign, the France international is likely to stay put with the Bundesliga side for at least one more season.
This is sure to have come as a huge blow to both Fabio Paratici and Antonio Conte, as French media outlet Foot Mercato reported earlier this month that Tottenham had already held meetings with the player’s representatives regarding a potential switch to north London next summer – while Eintracht are believed to value the striker at a figure in the region of €80m (£69m).
Regarding the interest in the attacker’s services, his agents said: “Our plan is for Kolo Muani to stay in Frankfurt for at least another year. He feels very comfortable at Eintracht. Here Randal has the perfect location for his development. If Kolo Muani scores 20 goals in his second season, then such a move would be more realistic.”
Henry 2.0
While these latest comments concerning Kolo Muani’s future do not appear overly positive for Paratici’s chances of landing the centre-forward next summer, considering just how impressive the 24-year-old has been in Germany so far this season, it would still appear highly advisable for the Italian sporting director to launch a bid for the striker at the end of the current campaign.
Indeed, over his 14 Bundesliga appearances in 2022/23, the £43m-rated talent has been in devastating attacking form, having already scored five goals, registered nine assists – the most in the division – and created six big chances for his teammates, in addition to taking an average of 2.0 shots, making 1.4 key passes and completing 2.0 dribbles per game.
These returns have seen the 6 foot 2 forward average an extremely impressive Sofascore match rating of 7.04, currently ranking him as Oliver Glasner’s third-best performer in the top flight of German football.
The £23k-per-week striker who Glasner dubbed a “great dribbler” has also impressed over his six outings in the Champions League, hitting the back of the net on two occasions, as well as taking an average of 1.8 shots – 1.2 of which have been on target – making 0.5 key passes and completing 0.7 dribbles per match.
The forward has also caught the eye for his country at this year’s World Cup, having featured in the group stage defeat to Tunisia before finding the net this evening against Morocco, scoring a historic semi-final goal with a tap in at the back post.
Furthermore, with the Frenchman also being more than capable of operating from either the left or right wing, coupled with his clear eye for goal and ability to create chances for his teammates, it is no surprise that Bundesliga.com have compared Kolo Muani to a certain Thierry Henry, with the website writing:
“Much like Kolo Muani, legendary France striker Henry started his career by impressing with his pace and trickery out wide before being repurposed as a centre-forward. Both players also clock in around the six-foot-two mark and cut very similar, rangy figures.
“Kolo Muani also has a languid dribbling style and immense turn of speed that were hallmarks of Henry’s game – especially at a young age. He bears similar strength on the ball and a cheekiness to his play that will leave Bundesliga defenders both in his wake and cutting frustrated figures.”
As such, while it would seem as if the striker’s agents are eager for him to remain at Eintracht for one more season, it would appear an extremely wise move for Paratici to do all he can to convince the forward of a move next summer, as the three-cap international is not only extremely deadly in the final third, but he could well be the Premier League’s next Henry-esque talent.
