Man Utd target Randal Kolo Muani 'not interested in being Plan B'

Stuart Telford

• 14 Jul 2023 16:38 BST
• 3 min read

Manchester United has shortlisted Randal Kolo Muani as a potential solution to their striker problem, but the Eintracht Frankfurt attacker isn't interested in being a 'Plan B' at Old Trafford.

United's need for a bona fide No.9 is pronounced, with last season's 30-goal top scorer Marcus Rashford doing his best work from the left wing and nobody yet signed to fill Cristiano Ronaldo's boots.

The Red Devils have been linked with a host of strikers this summer, from Tottenham Hotspur's Harty Kane and Napoli's Victor Osimhen to, latterly, Atalanta and Denmark youngster Rasmus Hojlund.

READ: Man Utd's cash plus players bid for Hojlund REJECTED

But when United come calling a transfer target's asking price regularly inflates, and all three clubs have asked for at least €100 million to part ways with their players.

Kolo Muani 'no spare tyre'

Enter Kolo Muani, who is valued at €53m by FootballTransfers' in-house algorithm. The Frenchman also might not come cheap… but he might not move at all.

"There are contacts with Manchester United, but nothing more for the moment," reports l'Equipe's Emery Taisne. "[Kolo Muani] expects interest, but what kind of interest? If it's to act as a spare tyre, a Plan B, following the failure of other negotiations, he's not sure such a project interests him.

READ: Man Utd takeover: Apple ready to 'blow things up'

"He's not necessarily against extended his stay in Frankfurt for another year and getting closer to the end of his contract. He's already proved he can succeed in the Bundesliga next season. He could wait another year to be a Plan A at a top club."

Kolo Muani had 15 goals and 14 assists in 32 Bundesliga outings last season, as well as helping France to the World Cup final in Qatar, which they lost on penalties to Lionel Messi's Argentina.

Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain have also been credited with an interest in the Nantes man, but they also have other targets and are, for the moment, focusing on Kane and Juventus' Dusan Vlahovic respectively.