For the past month or so, Southampton have been linked with Randal Kolo Muani, currently under contract at FC Nantes in France.
The 22-year-old has been impressive for the Ligue 1 club, returning from his loan at US Boulogne last summer to become a key member of the squad, scoring eight goals and assisting another eight in 36 league appearances so far.
His form has caught the eye of a few clubs around Europe, with the Saints being one of them, meaning the competition is rather fierce.
With just one year left on his contract, this summer could be the best time for the team to cash in and for him to move on, and it appears things could edge in that direction going forward.
Sky sources: After the transfer of Blanco @Eintracht are very optimistic for Randal Kolo Muani (Nantes). They are offering a 5 year contract, but still need to negotiate with Nantes. Leverkusen and Southampton are interested too, but Randal’s priority is Frankfurt #TransferUpdate pic.twitter.com/kRPluRd1x5
— Max Bielefeld (@Sky_MaxB) May 17, 2021
Previous reports suggested Southampton had initiated contact with the player’s entourage, and while that’s all well and good, they might need to start moving a bit quicker if they are to get their man.
That’s because Sky Germany, via their reporter Max Bielefeld, are reporting that Eintracht Frankfurt are ‘very optimistic’ about signing Kolo Muani.
They are said to have offered him a five year contract, ‘but still need to negotiate with Nantes’.
As for Southampton, they are said to be ‘interested too’, alongside Bayer Leverkusen, but the player’s ‘priority is Frankfurt’.
That means Ralph Hasenhüttl and co. need to be extra convincing if they want to win this race.
