Eintracht Frankfurt may be preparing for life without Randal Kolo Muani as Premier League giants Manchester United scour the market for a new number nine.
During Frankfurt’s DFB Pokal semi-final victory over Stuttgart recently, one Bundesliga reporter asked whether Randal Kolo Muani could now be considered the greatest free-agent signing in the history of German football.
Now, the first point to make is that the former Nantes frontman – who moved to Commerzbank Arena when his contract expired in the summer of 2022 – has a long way to go before he can match the achievements of one Robert Lewandowski at Bayern Munich.
But the simple fact that such questions are now starting to be asked about Kolo Muani is testament to the quite staggering impact he’s made under Oliver Glasner.
The skilful 24-year-old – born in the same town as Kylian Mbappe – has almost as many assists (16) as goals (22).
His price-tag, meanwhile, has soared to somewhere in the region of £100 million; Bayern Munich joining Manchester United in pursuit of his sought-after signature (Sky Sports).
Will Randal Kolo Muani be Manchester United’s new striker?
United, of course, may consider the proven Premier League option of Harry Kane or Scudetto-winning Victor Osimhen better value for money. Kolo Muani, after all, only has one season of regular goalscoring under his belt.
But with Daniel Levy reluctant to let Kane join a direct rival – and with Napoli president Aurelio de Laurentiis insisting that Osimhen is going nowhere – Kolo Muani may be the more attainable – if not affordable – of three three.
Especially with Frankfurt already entering discussions with potential replacements.
“Frankfurt is a massive club in the Bundesliga,” the agent of Lyon striker Moussa Dembele tells Florian Plettenberg. “A massive fanbase. We are considering and valuing this option.”
Chief scout Cornelius Kruesser, meanwhile, informs Brilla that Gent’s Gift Orban is another on the radar.
The good news, for Frankfurt fans, is that Die Adler have quite the habit of replacing star players. Kolo Muani himself arrived after Sebastien Haller, Andre Silva, Ante Rebic, Luka Jovic and co had all departed.
Don’t bet against Orban or Dembele making quite a splash of their own at the Commerzbank Arena.
“For the Bundesliga, Kolo Muani is a major asset,” German legend Lothar Matthaus says. “He is impressive in his actions. Full of composure when facing the opposing goal, and often has the last word in duels.
“Where he impresses the most is that he shines in every game. This is the mark of future greats.”