During the summer of 2022, an exciting, French-speaking forward arrived in the Bundesliga and promised to add a different dimension to an already impressive frontline.

And, no, we are not talking about Sadio Mane.

Bayern Munich’s Senegalese superstar was conspicuous by his absence during January’s 1-1 draw with Eintracht Frankfurt at the Allianz Arena; unavailable once again due to an ongoing injury. With Mane stuck on the sidelines, Randal Kolo Muani enhanced his own argument to be named the Bundesliga’s Signing of the Season with a typically well-worked goal to cancel out Leroy Sane’s opener. It was the sort of goal Kolo Muani has made his trademark at Frankfurt; incisive, clinical, and almost effortless in it’s execution.

Frankfurt have a proud tradition of signing up-and-coming forwards for bargain fees. See Sebastien Haller, Luka Jovic, Ante Rebic, Jesper Lindstrom. But, even by their standards, the deal that saw Kolo Muani arrive on a free transfer from Nantes less than a year ago feels like a coup of rather epic proportions.

Especially when you factor in reports that Kolo Muani, amid rising interest from elsewhere, is already being valued in the region of £80 million.

FROM FREE-AGENT TO £80M STAR IN JUST A FEW MONTHS

There were shades of Sadio Mane, meanwhile, in the way the France international put Hertha Berlin to the sword last weekend. He opened the scoring by winning and then converting an early penalty; bamboozling the visiting defence with his swivelling snake hips, a movement more often associated with a slick dancefloor than a football pitch. Kolo Muani doubled his and Frankfurt’s tally later in the first-half; timing his run to perfection before slotting home.

In 18 Bundesliga games, Kolo Muani has nine goals and 12 assists. 12 and 13 in all competitions. There is arguably not a more complete young forward in European football right now; a player with Kolo Muani’s speed and skill, craft and guile, flexibility, movement, creativity and ruthlessness.

Source: hitc.com