Transfer deadline day saw Tottenham Hotspur complete the season-long loan of Paris Saint-Germain forward Randal Kolo Muani (£7.0m).
The France international almost extended his temporary stay at Juventus, only for talks to break down, allowing Spurs to swoop.
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So, what impact will the 26-year-old have in Fantasy Premier League (FPL)?
We’ll take a look during this Scout Report piece.
HISTORY
Until recently, Kolo Muani was one of Europe’s most highly sought-after young strikers. Born in Paris, he came through the ranks at Nantes, for whom he scored 21 Ligue 1 goals in the two seasons before joining Eintracht Frankfurt in 2022.
| SEASON | CLUB | DIVISION | STARTS (SUB) | GOALS | ASSISTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024/25 | Juventus (loan) | Serie A | 13 (3) | 8 | 1 |
| 2024/25 | Paris Saint-Germain | Ligue 1 | 2 (8) | 2 | 1 |
| 2023/24 | Paris Saint-Germain | Ligue 1 | 13 (13) | 6 | 5 |
| 2023/24 | Eintracht Frankfurt | Bundesliga | 2 (0) | 1 | 0 |
| 2022/23 | Eintracht Frankfurt | Bundesliga | 31 (1) | 15 | 14 |
| 2021/22 | Nantes | Ligue 1 | 34 (2) | 12 | 5 |
| 2020/21 | Nantes | Ligue 1 | 35 (2) | 9 | 8 |
His sole year in Germany was so impressive – rattling off 26 goals and 17 assists in all competitions – that PSG lured him back to his home city with a £78m offer.
However, just like Hugo Ekitike (£8.7m), Kolo Muani struggled to find a pathway into the French giants’ lineup. One-and-a-half seasons brought eight goals and six assists in 36 league appearances, of which only 15 were starts, so he joined Juventus on loan in January.
The Frenchman thrived in Turin, scoring eight league goals in 16 outings, plus a couple of Club World Cup strikes.
At international level, Kolo Muani has 31 caps for Les Bleus, netting on nine occasions. Yet his most memorable moment wasn’t great. In the 2022 World Cup final, he had the chance to score at the very end of extra time and write his name into folklore. To his eternal regret, the shot was saved by Emiliano Martinez (£5.0m) and France went on to lose on penalties.
PLAYING STYLE
Juventus’ failure to renew Kolo Muani’s loan was an absolute godsend for Spurs. After losing out on targets like Eberechi Eze (£7.5m) and Morgan Gibbs-White (£7.5m), they were about to fall short again. But adding both him and Xavi Simons (£7.0m) dramatically upgrades their attacking options.
Kolo Muani should be well-suited to the Premier League, too. He’s quick off the mark, difficult to knock off the ball and calm in front of goal.
Furthermore, he is adept at coming short to link with onrushing midfielders, as well as arcing his runs when racing on to through balls. Able to shoot with both feet, he comes alive in the penalty area and has excellent close control.
If one major drawback needs identifying, it’s that Kolo Muani can sometimes go quiet when confronted by low-block opponents. But if Thomas Frank can perfect a transition-based style of football, we might see the best of him.
Above: Graphics courtesy of Sofascore
Being two-footed allows him to drift all over the pitch. His pace and skills are sometimes deployed on either flank, but his best work comes from a central position.
Above: Graphics courtesy of Transfermarkt
When used as the main striker at both Juventus and Frankfurt, he averaged 0.5 goals per game. Additionally, his one Bundesliga season showcased some creativity, adding 14 assists to his repertoire.
WHERE KOLO MUANI FITS IN AT SPURS
If Spurs want a rapid, powerful forward with an eye for goal and the ability to link up play, then they’ve landed on the right player.
Frank likes to use a 4-3-3 formation and has so far deployed Richarlison (£6.7m) up top, supported by Brennan Johnson (£7.1m) and Mohammed Kudus (£6.6m).
We’ll now likely see Simons play in their number 10 role and Kolo Muani compete for minutes as their main centre-forward but, of course, the north London side needs to juggle Premier League football with Champions League occasions.
WILL KOLO MUANI BE WORTH BUYING IN FPL?
These arrivals could bring bad news for owners of Richarlison and Johnson, but Kolo Muani is definitely one for FPL watchlists, considering Spurs’ incredibly welcoming next six matches.
Confirmation of his role in their system and how often Frank shuffles his attacking riches still needs clarification, but there is no doubt that, with Kolo Muani, the head coach has a potentially explosive weapon at his disposal.
At this moment, however, it’s a classic ‘wait and see’ in FPL.
