Paris Saint-Germain have had a huge bid rejected by Eintracht Frankfurt for Randal Kolo Muani, who was linked with Newcastle earlier in the transfer window.
The 24-year-old was scouted by Newcastle earlier this summer, with the club weighing up a potential move for the versatile attacker, but having signed Harvey Barnes, it seems unlikely that the Magpies will return for the France international.
The Frenchman is a highly talented player, having appeared in the World Cup final last December, and his price tag is soaring. A striker who can also play wide, Kolo Muani scored 23 and assisted 17 times in 46 appearances in all competitions last season.
Sky Sports News have reported that PSG have bid €80m (£68.6m) for the forward, but Frankfurt are holding out for €100m (£85.8m), having rejected their initial offer.
Should Newcastle have signed Kolo Muani?
Given the potential finances required to sign him this summer, it does not feel like a deal was realistically possible.
Newcastle are well stocked with Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson at centre-forward, but Kolo Muani’s ability to play on the right could have helped add another dimension to Newcastle’s attack.
He has been described as “really quick” and his excellent dribbling ability could have gone hand in hand with Isak, and this could have been a potentially deadly front three alongside Anthony Gordon or Harvey Barnes.
It is a shame that a deal did not materialise this summer, and with PSG now pursuing him, even if Newcastle had the spare funds for another attacker, he may have chosen the French champions instead.
Given his age, he could have been another great long-term option with Isak, Gordon and Barnes, and would have helped eventually replace Wilson as the Englishman gets older.
Newcastle will have to look elsewhere if they want another attacker, but landing someone as well-rounded and as clinical as Kolo Muani is not easily done.
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