Manchester United are plotting a €120million (£105m) transfer bid to sign Eintracht Frankfurt star Randal Kolo Muani, it's been claimed.
The French striker, 24, recently changed agencies after previously indicating that he'd remain with German side for at least one more season, a decision which hints at an exit. Kolo Muani, who's scored 16 goals for Eintracht this term, has emerged as a target for United manager Erik ten Hag amid the Red Devils' search for a new striker.
Ten Hag is understood to have earmarked Tottenham talisman Harry Kane as his No.1 priority, but Spurs' reluctancy to sell means that United must assess alternative options. While Napoli hotshot Victor Osimhen and Benfica starlet Goncalo Ramos are on the Red Devils' radar, Kolo Muani has been linked with a move to Old Trafford in what would be a club-record deal.
According to German publication SportBild, United lead the race and are putting together a £105m package which would make the France international their most expensive signing ever. Although Eintracht have Kolo Muani contracted until 2027, the Bundesliga club would find it hard to resist that kind of offer considering they acquired him on a free transfer from Nantes last summer.
The 24-year-old helped France finish second at the World Cup, scoring with his first touch after coming on as a late substitute in their 2-0 semi-final victory over Morocco. He then had the chance to win the final with a last-gasp effort in extra-time, only for Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez to produce a stunning save.
Either side of the tournament, Kolo Muani has also registered a superb 14 assists across his 34 appearances. With his stock rising, talk of a transfer has only gotten louder and the forward's decision to switch agents has added fuel to the fire.
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Kolo Muani's previous agency, MDC, stated in December that his plan was to stay at Eintracht for a second campaign. Now, though, SportBild report that new agent Moussa Sissoko - not the former Tottenham and Watford midfielder - is allegedly keen to engineer a transfer move this summer.
Despite the eye-watering figures being banded around, Eintracht director Markus Krosche declared after the World Cup that his club wouldn't even sell Kolo Muani for €100m (£87m). "He have clearly stated that we do not want to sell a key player," Krosche added via BuliNews. "There is no reason for that. That remains the case."
German legend Lothar Matthaus has even tipped Kolo Muani to be a "future superstar." "He is a major asset for the Bundesliga," Matthaus told L'Equipe. "He has remarkable technical ability, he's ice-cold in front of goal and he really throws himself into challenges. The most impressive thing is that he's performing in every game. I can't remember a match where he's played badly. That's the mark of a future superstar."
