The France international is enjoying a breakout campaign in Germany, and could be heading to Old Trafford in the summer
“We have to build a new future and we need a striker who not only scores goals but contributes by linking up play very well and pressing, which is very important.” Erik ten Hag gave a very clear picture of his ideal No.9 when discussing Manchester United's summer transfer plans in an interview with in April.
Wout Weghorst has given his all in that role since joining the club on loan from Burnley, but doesn't provide enough of a goal threat. The Dutchman might want a permanent contract, but he simply has not done enough to earn one.
The injury-ravaged Anthony Martial is the only other natural centre-forward in United's ranks, and has proven once again this season that he cannot be relied upon. Like Weghorst, there is a high chance he won't be playing at Old Trafford next season.
Marcus Rashford has, therefore, shouldered the main scoring burden for United this season, and he's certainly stepped up with 29 goals across 51 games. But he's at his best when cutting in from the left-wing, and United have no one to turn to when he is absent.
Napoli's Victor Osimhen and Tottenham talisman Harry Kane are both reportedly on United's list for the summer as Ten Hag strives to address the biggest weakness in his squad. However, Osimhen is said to be favouring a move to Bayern Munich, and Spurs are unlikely to accept less than £100 million ($126m) for Kane – despite the fact he is now 30 years of age and entering the final year of his contract.
If United are going to pay that much for a new striker, they need to have the prime years of their career still ahead of them. That is certainly the case for Eintracht Frankfurt's Randal Kolo Muani.
According to , the Red Devils are preparing to launch a £106m ($133m) bid for the Frenchman, which could be enough to convince Eintracht to let him go. United have seen something special in Kolo Muani, and it looks like they're ready to go all out to bring him to the Premier League.
But how did he get to this point where clubs of United's stature are willing to spend so much on him?
GettyNantes polish a diamond
At youth level, Kolo Muani learned his craft playing in the Parisian suburbs, as he spent time at Villepinte, Trembley and US Torcy. Nantes then came calling a month before his 17th birthday, but Kolo Muani had to bide his time for a breakthrough, as he spent the next three years in the club's academy. He was eventually rewarded for his hard work, as he made his debut off the bench in a Ligue 1 clash with Saint-Etienne in November 2018.
Nantes decided to send the forward out on loan at the end of that season, by which time he had six senior appearances under his belt. Kolo Muani endured a nightmare start to life with third-division outfit Bolougne, though, as he was shown two red cards in his first five appearances.
That sequence highlighted the fact he was still very much a raw talent, but he bounced back to record three goals and five assists before the campaign was cut short due to the coronavirus pandemic. When Kolo Muani eventually returned to Nantes, he was ready to make his mark.
Nantes were dragged into a relegation battle in 2020-21, but Kolo Muani established himself as a regular starter and finished the campaign with nine goals to his name as they beat the drop. The following season he was even better.
He notched 13 goals and seven assists as Nantes rose up to ninth in the Ligue 1 standings and won the Coupe de France. After that triumph, he left his homeland for the first time, with Eintracht snapping him up on a free transfer at the end of his contract.
AdvertisementGettyLightning fast start in Germany
Kolo Muani signed a five-year deal with the 2021-22 Europa League winners, and made his debut in a DFB-Pokal first-round clash against Magdeburg. He assisted one of the goals in a comprehensive 4-0 victory that set him up perfectly to make his bow in the Bundesliga.
Eintracht suffered a humbling 6-1 home defeat against champions Bayern Munich on the opening day, but Kolo Muani got his name on the scoresheet. Two weeks later, he recorded a goal and an assist in a thrilling 4-3 win against Werder Bremen.
Kolo Muani was developing into a master provider, and had nine assists to his name after his first 13 Bundesliga outings for Eintracht – which set a new competition record. He was also making an impact in the Champions League, most notably scoring the winner for Oliver Glasner's side in their final group-stage outing against Sporting CP that booked their place in the knockout rounds.
After the winter break, which saw Kolo Muani play a role for France during their run to the 2022 World Cup final, he picked up from right where he left off by laying on another assist in a 3-0 victory against Schalke. Kolo Muani has scored eight goals in his subsequent 13 Bundesliga outings, which has helped keep Eintracht in the hunt for a European spot.
In all competitions, Kolo Muani has scored 21 goals in 41 games- a fantastic return for his debut campaign at the Waldstadion. He was powerless to prevent Eintracht from exiting the Champions League in the last 16 at the hands of Napoli, but they are still on course for another trophy.
Eintracht beat Stuttgart 3-2 in a thrilling DFB-Pokal semi-final tie on Wednesday, with Kolo Muani grabbing the winner from the penalty spot. If he can keep up his electrifying form, they will fancy their chances of beating RB Leipzig in the showpiece on June 3.
(C)Getty ImagesLife-changing World Cup experience
Kolo Muani was handed his first international cap in a Nation's League encounter against Austria last September. He only came on for a brief stoppage-time cameo, but he was firmly in Didier Deschamps' thoughts for Qatar 2022.
The France head coach left Kolo Muani out of his initial 25-man squad, but he ended up being called up at the last minute following an unfortunate injury to Leipzig star Christopher Nkunku. The Eintracht forward sat out Les Bleus' first two group games at the World Cup, but was named in the starting line up against Tunisia, with their qualification for the knockout rounds already assured.
It proved to be a frustrating afternoon for Kolo Muani as he was starved of service in a 1-0 defeat. The striker returned to the bench for wins over Poland and England in the knockouts, but got another chance to shine against Morocco in the semi-finals.
France were holding a precarious 1-0 lead when Kolo Muani was introduced to the action, but he needed only 44 seconds to make a decisive contribution. After a mazy run, Kylian Mbappe managed to thread the ball through to the far post, where Kolo Muani ghosted in for a simple close-range finish.
After the highs of that contest, France came crashing back down to earth with a nightmare first-half showing against Argentina in the final. Kolo Muani came on for Ousmane Dembele after just 41 minutes as Deschamps tried to turn the tide, with Olivier Giroud also making way for Marcus Thuram.
Les Bleus were a different animal in the second period, and Kolo Muani won the penalty that Mbappe converted to halve the deficit. The game went to extra-time after another Mbappe goal, and he completed his hat-trick in the extra 30 minutes after Lionel Messi had once again given Argentina the advantage.
Then came a moment that still haunts Kolo Muani to this day. As the seconds ran down to the final whistle, he was played through one-on-one against Argentina keeper Emiliano Martinez.
Kolo Muani could have gone for a chip or passed to Mbappe, but he instead fired a shot towards Martinez' near post, who in turn kept the ball out with an outstretched leg. Kolo Muani showed great character to pick himself up and convert a penalty in the subsequent shootout, but Argentina emerged as eventual winners.
It was certainly an experience Kolo Muani will never forget, and one that he will be stronger for. With him, Mbappe and Dembele leading the line, Les Bleus have a very bright future ahead.
Getty ImagesPlaying style
Kolo Muani operated on the wing in the earlier stages of his career, but has reinvented himself as a centre-forward in Frankfurt. He's adapted seamlessly, mainly because of his intelligence on the ball and ability to map out a picture in front of him.
Eintracht's leading man is quick and excels in tight spaces. His dazzling footwork often leaves defenders chasing their tails and he backs it up with end product.
Kolo Muani's impressive assists record tells you all you need to know about how unselfish he can be in the final third, which may come to the detriment of his own output. But his incisive passing has been crucial for Eintracht this term, and its easy to imagine him linking up very with Rashford at United.
When watching Kolo Muani in full flow, its natural to draw comparisons with France and Arsenal legend Thierry Henry. They both stand at similar height and have a wiry build typical of a traditional target man.
Kolo Muani also has a similarly relaxed dribbling style, as he often glides along the turf before turning on the afterburners to leave his marker for dust. He's deceptively strong too, and would have no problems with the physical demands of the Premier League.