Saints Interested In French Striker But Face Battle To Sign Him
According to media reports on the Continent Saints are one of six clubs including Watford to be interested in Nantes striker Randal Kolo Muani, but how much truth is in this rumour and how much would Saints have to pay.
According to media outlet Foot Mercato, Southampton have joined Watford in a six-way battle to sign Randal Kolo Muani after making initial contact with the FC Nantes striker’s agent.
Nantes enter the final weekend of Ligue 1 fixtures in France in 17th place and as it stands in the relegation play-off spot, but they could rise as high as 13th with a win at home to Montpellier on Sunday and other results going their way.
Muani has been a key player in their battle to avoid the drop and has scored 8 goals and 8 assists for his team and although he is not quite the top scorer for the club this season, no one has as many assists.
Muani seems to have been a late developer as at 22 this is his first season as a regular in the Nantes team and he spent last season on loan at Boulogne in the 3rd tier of French football, however he has taken his opportunity and is now one of the sought after players in Ligue 1.
Standing at 6ft 2 he is very much a central striker and his current market value is somewhere between £5-6 million, mainly so low due to a lack of a real track record.
Saints are said to be in a six way battle as Muani is also being tracked by Watford along with Eintracht Frankfurt, RB Leipzig and SC Freiburg in Germany plus Belgian giants Club Brugge.
However only Watford and RB Leipzig are likely to be contenders along with Saints in terms of standard of the competition he could pay in and also salary that could be offered.
The question is whether Saints need to sign him, he certainly would not seem to be a better bet than Che Adams up front who has a track record of scoring in the Premier League and this may only be of interest to Saints if Danny Ings goes.
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