Long-term Manchester United target Randal Kolo Muani is “almost guaranteed” to leave Paris Saint-Germain in the January transfer window, according to Fabrizio Romano.
The Red Devils were strongly linked with the French forward in the summer of 2023, with the club ultimately settling on Rasmus Hojlund as their number one target in attack, despite Kolo Muani having many admirers at Old Trafford.
In the same window, PSG then swooped for the 26-year-old, after having been interested in Hojlund themselves, eventually agreeing a £76.4 million deal with Eintracht Frankfurt to bring the Frenchman to the French capital.
However, Kolo Muani has not settled perfectly to life in Paris with only 11 goals in 54 appearances for the Ligue 1 champions. And while has produced an additional seven assists, it’s a level of return which isn’t consummate with the outlay PSG spent to secure his services.
Luis Enrique was appointed to the helm at the Parc de Princes in the same summer the club bought Kolo Muani. Yet the Spanish manager has never warmed to the forward, often leaving him on the bench in favour of Goncalo Ramos, or a false nine system.
Reportedly, Enrique has made it clear to the PSG hierarchy that Kolo Muani is surplus to requirements in his system, and with the French club keen to throw its entire weight behind the manager and his philosophy, they will actively seek to shift the 26-year-old in January.
This leads Romano to conclude it is a “sure” thing that Kolo Munai will leave Paris in the winter window with Enrique continuing to show he “doesn’t count on the French striker anymore.”
🚨⚠️ Kolo Muani's exit in January is considered sure and almost guaranteed, as Luis Enrique keeps showing he doesn't count on the French striker anymore.
PSG are open to discuss Randal's exit on their conditions, same as Milan Skriniar.
Plan reported 10 days ago, confirmed. pic.twitter.com/CUAp9Z020w
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 21, 2024
Tweet: “Kolo Muani’s exit in January is considered sure and almost guaranteed, as Luis Enrique keeps showing he doesn’t count on the French striker anymore.
PSG are open to discuss Randal’s exit on their conditions, same as Milan Skriniar.”
The Italian transfer guru reveals PSG are “open discuss [Kolo Muani’s] exit on their conditions”. A loan move is the most likely deal, though the French club will be keen for a purchase option, or perhaps even an obligation clause, to be included in this.
United were linked with a move for Kolo Muani earlier in the season as the club considers options to buttress its misfiring forward line.
Only four teams in the Premier League have scored fewer goals than the Red Devils this season – an ineffectiveness in the opposition box which ultimately cost Erik ten Hag his job in the summer.
New head coach Ruben Amorim will almost certainly be open to further investment in his new front line, especially with the departure of Marcus Rashford seemingly increasing likely by the day.
As with Kolo Muani, United are unlikely to be able to agree an exit for Rashford in January outside of a loan move, which makes the possibility that it could be a case of a ‘one-in, one-out’ approach for the Reds in terms of a late Christmas present.
If Rashford departs on a loan deal in January, Kolo Muani could be targeted as a short-term replacement on a six-month deal, before a final decision is made on a new attacker next summer.
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