The Frankfurt Star Who Is On Bayern Munich’s Radar

Randal Kolo Muani might very well be the transfer of the season already. Signed on a free deal by Eintracht Frankfurt from Nantes last summer, the striker has since increased his €16 million ($17 million) Transfermarkt market value to €37 million ($40 million). Kolo Muani’s market value was last updated on Friday following a strong World Cup with France.

The 24-year-old striker was a late addition to the squad replacing RB Leipzig forward Christopher Nkunku, who suffered a ligament injury in the buildup of the tournament. Kolo Muani then certainly made the most of the tournament, scoring one goal and one assist for France on the way to the final, where he became the tragic hero missing a big chance with just moments to go to put the game away.

Racially abused on social media, Kolo Muani and his teammate Aurélien Tchouameni had to deactivate their Instagram accounts. It was a sad ending to a tournament for the Eintracht Frankfurt striker, whose stock has been on the up ever since moving to the Bundesliga last summer. It also overshadows the fact that the striker might be one of the most in-form forwards in Europe.

Kolo Muani has scored five goals and ten assists in just 14 Bundesliga games and has added another two goals in the UEFA Champions League. In Germany, only Bayern Munich super talent Jamal Musiala has more scorer points than Kolo Muani (nine goals and seven assists).

Not the only category Kolo Muani has impressed in. According to Wyscout, the French striker’s 51 progressive runs is only second to Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong (73). Kolo Muani’s 8.34 dribbles per 90 minutes also rank fourth in the league, just behind Hertha’s Chidera Ejuke (9.07), Hoffenheim’s Georginio Rutter (9.01) and Bayern’s Kingsley Coman (8.7).

With those numbers in mind, it is no surprise that Kolo Muani has already been linked to the Rekordmeister. While the number one target for the no.9 position remains English striker Harry Kane, Bayern has reportedly put Kolo Muani and his French teammate and Gladbach striker Marcus Thuram as potential alternatives.

Still under contract until 2027 at Frankfurt, Kolo Muani has been offered to Bayern Munich ahead of the World Cup as a possible Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting replacement. Director of sport Hasan Salihamidzic, however, recently confirmed in an interview with Sport Bild that talks with Choupo-Motings about a contract extension are ongoing.

“I’m in contact with his management,” Salihamidzic said. “We will meet in the next few weeks and start the talks. Choupo was incredibly good for the team, especially in the second part of the first half of the season. He performed well and made everyone happy.”

With Kolo Muani’s pricetag increasing, however, it becomes unlikely that Bayern will be able to sign the French striker as a backup to Kane. Frankfurt is indeed no stranger to record-breaking transfers. In the past, the club has sold forwards Luka Jović for €63 million ($66 million) to Real Madrid, Sébastien Haller for €40 million ($42 million) to West Ham, and André Silva for €23 million ($24 million) to league rivals RB Leipzig.

In other words, Frankfurt knows how to command a significant transfer fee, and Kolo Muani is getting to a point where he could break the club transfer record set by Jović. That, in turn, could price him out of a move to Bayern Munich.

Manuel Veth is the host of the Bundesliga Gegenpressing Podcast and the Area Manager USA at Transfermarkt. He has also been published in the Guardian, Newsweek, Howler, Pro Soccer USA, and several other outlets. Follow him on Twitter: @ManuelVeth