Spurs strike season-long loan deal for Kolo Muani

Randal Kolo Muani played for Juventus at the Club World Cup before returning to PSG

Tottenham Hotspur have agreed a season-long loan deal for Paris St-Germain striker Randal Kolo Muani.

The 26-year-old has been linked with Premier League clubs for several months, with interest from Spurs, Manchester United, Chelsea and West Ham.

He is set to move to Tottenham on transfer deadline day after personal terms were agreed with Thomas Frank's side.

Kolo Muani spent the second half of last season on loan at Juventus, scoring eight goals in 16 Serie A games.

The former Nantes and Eintracht Frankfurt forward joined PSG in September 2023 and has won two Ligue 1 titles.

Kolo Muani also has 31 senior caps for France, scoring in the 2022 World Cup semi-final victory over Morocco and playing in the final defeat by Argentina.

Kolo Muani is set to be Tottenham's fourth senior signing of the summer, following Mohammed Kudus, Joao Palhinha and Xavi Simons.

Along with wingers Kudus and Simons, centre-forward Kolo Muani could help form a new look strikeforce for Spurs as they prepare for a Champions League return.

The signings come at the end of a window which has been difficult at times for Tottenham, with failed move for targets including Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White, and Crystal Palace's Eberechi Eze - who joined Arsenal instead.

They are also looking to sign a central defender before Monday's 19:00 BST deadline, with interest in Manchester City's Manuel Akanji after a move for Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi failed.

A replacement for Solanke?

Kolo Muani's arrival comes amid fears about the severity of striker Dominic Solanke's ankle injury.

Speaking after Spurs' 1-0 home league defeat by Bournemouth on Saturday, Frank said he was hopeful Solanke would be back after the international break.

He also warned against a potential imbalance in the squad if Spurs brought in another attacker.

"To have the three strikers in the squad can also cause a problem as you can only play one at a time," Frank said.

"It's a fine balance. I'm not saying we will never go for another striker at another time, but I'm happy with Solanke and Richarlison."

However, the Englishman's absence at the weekend meant Spurs had no specialist centre-forward on the bench - and they have now moved to reinforce their attack.

'A silkier alternative to Richarlison' - analysis

Kolo Muani is perhaps best known for a chance he missed - the 120th-minute effort for France against Argentina in the 2022 World Cup final which was so brilliantly saved by the leg of Emiliano Martinez.

However, the fact he was in that position indicates what sort of player he is and why Spurs have moved to sign him on loan.

Kolo Muani is two-footed, has a knack of finding space in the area, and standing 6ft 1in is good in the air.

He has scored regularly at most places he has played - 10 goals in 22 for Juventus, and 26 in 50 for Frankfurt. He only netted 11 in 54 for PSG, but many of those appearances were as a substitute.

Kolo Muani provides a silkier alternative to the more physical style of Richarlison, who started Tottenham's defeat by Bournemouth as the central striker.

And the Frenchman is also capable of playing anywhere across the front-line, ensuring valuable depth for Spurs as they aim to compete at home and in Europe.