A trusted publication are tipping Liverpool to place an offer for a Man Utd-linked striker who’s bagged 28 goal contributions in 29 matches this season.
The Reds have invested heavily in their frontline in recent windows. The likes of Xherdan Shaqiri, Divock Origi, Takumi Minamino and Sadio Mane have departed, though they’ve been replaced by big-money signings Diogo Jota, Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo.
Other areas of Jurgen Klopp’s squad are expected to take precedence at season’s end. Fabrizio Romano told Reds fans to watch out for two midfield additions and one at centre-half.
On that front, a huge £190m double deal is taking shape. However, according to German publication BILD, Liverpool’s overhaul won’t end there.
They claim that despite assembling a star-studded forward line, Liverpool are poised to bid for Eintracht Frankfurt superstar, Randal Kolo Muani. In the outlet’s words, Frankfurt are ‘expecting’ to receive an offer from the Reds.
Muani, 24, only joined Frankfurt as a free agent at the beginning of the season. He signed a five-year deal and has since gone on a tear in Germany.
Muani has 14 goals and 14 assists to his name in 29 appearances across all competitions this season. His reward for such explosive displays was a call-up to France’s World Cup squad in Qatar.
The frontman – who plays primarily at centre-forward but can deputise on the right wing – was made to be patient by manager Didier Deschamps.
However, he took his chance when scoring off the bench against Morocco in the semi-final. Deschamps subsequently brought Muani on from the bench in the first half of the pulsating final against Argentina and he was just one of two French players to score in the shoot-out.
French ace on the move once again?
It’s been a remarkable rise for the former Nantes man, but via Sport Witness (and also the Liverpool Echo), it’s claimed his rapid rise could see him leave Frankfurt after just one season.
The German side reportedly believed Muani would remain in situ until at least 2024. However, citing BILD, a transfer at season’s end is ‘already possible’. The player has also recently changed agents in an early sign he’s gearing up for a move.
PSG, Real Madrid and Man Utd are all namechecked as suitors if given the green light by Frankfurt. The Red Devils are known to be hunting a high profile striker signing with Wout Weghorst no more than a short-term fix.
Harry Kane and Napoli’s Victor Osimhen were described by the Telegraph as Erik ten Hag’s two primary targets. However, both could cost well over £100m and their respective clubs will block a sale at all costs.
Another club who would ordinarily be interested in Muani is Bayern Munich. They too require an elite frontman after failing to replace Robert Lewandowski.
But Sky Germany claimed they’re not in the race and that’s a view shared by BILD. Instead, of all the interest parties, it’s remarkably Liverpool who ‘will make an offer’.
Prior reports have put Muani’s valuation around the €100m (approx. £89m) mark. An offer of that size, per Sport Witness, will be ‘more than enough to tempt [Frankfurt] into a sale.’
Whether Liverpool and Klopp actually need another high profile forward is open to debate. Roberto Firmino is a free agent at season’s end, though talks over a contract extension are understood to be progressing well.
