Randal Kolo Muani: The €100m free transfer primed for the Premier League

Robin Bairner

• Updated: 15 Dec 2022 11:42 GMT
• 8 min read

Three years ago, Randal Kolo Muani would not have believed you if you’d told him that he would score in a World Cup semi-final, yet that is the reality for the striker, who has exploded in the intervening period.

Kolo Muani had been on the field less than a minute when he tapped into an empty net when Kylian Mbappe’s shot was deflected, with his first international goal giving France safe passage through to Sunday’s World Cup final thanks to a 2-0 success over Morocco.

The Eintracht Frankfurt striker, who turned 24 on 5 December, is still on his journey to the top, though.

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As recently as 2019/20, he was on loan at Boulogne playing at a semi-professional level, before two strong seasons in Ligue 1 with Nantes led him to the Bundesliga. He was already catching the eye in France last season, but his move to Germany has taken his game to a whole new level.

Frankfurt probably can’t believe their luck that they were able to pick him up as a free agent. He has scored five times and created 10 more in 15 Bundesliga matches since his transfer, while he also has a couple of Champions League goals to his credit.

As he has shown in Qatar, there’s more to come – and for a club like Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea or Arsenal, that should make him an attractive prospect.

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Randal Kolo Muani’s strengths

Kolo Muani is a modern striker who has rapidly improved over the course of the last 18 months. This is highlighted by his FootballTransfers valuation. In January 2021, he was worth an estimated €5 million, now his estimated valuation is €50m.

Technically, he is strong. His passing and dribbling both rate highly compared to forwards in the Bundesliga, while the mental side of his game is also strong as he takes up intelligent positions in attacking areas. Furthermore, he is quick.

Kolo Muani v Bundesliga strikers: 2022/23

Having been born in Bondy, it is little surprise, then, that he has been compared to Mbappe, but the differences are clear.

“He’s not a goal-obsessed player but he creates a lot of chances,” former Nantes boss Christian Gourcuff said. “He has to become more clinical.”

That cutting edge is coming.

Certainly, those Premier League clubs in need of a striker would welcome his defensive contribution with open arms. He is industrious defensively, buying into the current fashion of pressing football and doing so to a capable degree in a team that plays in an intense style.

What club would suit Kolo Muani?

Liverpool are the club that has been most closely linked with him, with FootMercato reporting that the

Arsenal or Manchester United might be the best fits for Kolo Muani at present as his game continues to develop. It would be a big jump to Chelsea, who need an immediate upgrade in the No.9 role.

The Gunners, though, are really after someone who can offer a temporary replacement for Gabriel Jesus, while Man Utd need an option to backup Anthony Martial following the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo.

Kolo Muani is capable of filling either of these roles.

Any problems?

Yes. Frankfurt will be unwilling to sell. Kolo Muani only arrived at the club in the summer and signed a five-year deal, meaning that the Bundesliga side can exert tremendous power over the player’s future.

Sport Bild reports the Bundesliga club want hope to attract offers of around €80-100m in the summer – and they won’t listen to bids less than €60m.