Manchester United

Manchester United

Premier League • England

Monster Man Utd move for Bundesliga striker receives key confirmation from German source

Frankfurt and Napoli strikers Randal Kolo Muani and Victor Osimhen

Victor Osimhen speaks with Randal Kolo Muani after Napoli vs Eintracht Frankfurt

A trusted German source has added weight to talk of a blockbuster Man Utd move for a Bundesliga striker, though revealed Erik ten Hag actually favours a different hitman.

News out of Germany on Wednesday suggested Manchester United were prepared to go all-out for Frankfurt’s Randal Kolo Muani.

BILD claimed the Red Devils are willing to splash out as much as £105m (€120m) to land the France international. A bid of that size, predictably, will reportedly be enough to see Frankfurt greenlight a sale.

Kolo Muani, 24, has bagged 30 goal contributions in 34 matches for the German side this season. His exploits at club level saw him earn a place in Didier Deschamps’ French side in Qatar and Kolo Muani featured heavily in the latter stages of the World Cup.

It was also claimed Kolo Muani would assume the No 9 shirt at Old Trafford, with an arrival likely to spark Anthony Martial’s exit.

That news came quickly on the heels of a Harry Kane swoop hitting a brick wall.

Indeed, Sky Sports reported that even if Kane doesn’t pen fresh terms in north London, Spurs will not entertain a sale this summer under any circumstances. The risk there is Tottenham could then lose Kane for nothing in the summer of 2024 when his contract expires.

Now, Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg has weighed in on the Kolo Muani speculation. Plettenberg also provided an update on United’s interest in Napoli’s Victor Osimhen – another striker heavily linked with the Red Devils.

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Kolo Muani, Osimhen latest

Firstly, Plettenberg was unable to confirm BILD’s claim a £105m bid for Kolo Muani is planned. However, he did provide confirmation the Frenchman is indeed a concrete target for Man Utd and is very much in their recruitment plans.

In Plettenberg’s words, Kolo Muani is “definitely on the list as a possible transfer target for summer”.

However, per the journalist, Napoli’s Osimhen is actually rated higher by those within Old Trafford.

The 24-year-old was on target once again on Wednesday night, ironically against Kolo Muani’s Frankfurt.

Osimhen bagged a brace to help secure safe passage into the Champions League quarter finals. The two-goal effort also brought his tally for the season to 23 goals in 28 matches. He’s also laid on five assists for his teammates along the way.

Plettenberg added Osimhen is “rated higher than Kolo Muani” by those in power at Old Trafford. The Napoli ace was labelled “one of the club’s main priorities” for the summer window.

With a Kane coup off the table, Man Utd’s striker search may well come down to Kolo Muani or Osimhen.

If Plettenberg is correct, a move for Osimhen will take precedence, though a deal is laced with difficulty.

Napoli are notoriously tough negotiators and Osimhen is understood to be valued well in excess of £100m. What’s more, Napoli president, Aurelio De Laurentiis, previously told BILD his club have “no debts” and as such, are under no pressure to cash in on their star man whatsoever.

A move for Kolo Muani thus looks easier to make. As far as back-up options go he’d be a fine one, though Osimhen remains the focus for the time being.

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