Sky Journalist reveals the £50m Premier League striker Tottenham tried to sign before Kolo Muani
Tottenham signed Randal Kolo Muani from Paris Saint-Germain on loan on transfer deadline day.
It has been a dramatic few days at Tottenham with the exit of Daniel Levy, but also the late transfer window signings of Xavi Simons and Randal Kolo Muani, bolstering Thomas Frank’s attack.
Kolo Muani spent last season on loan at Juventus, who were keen to sign him permanently, but instead he has made the move to Spurs. The Frenchman is a reliable striker option who managed to net eight goals in 16 Serie A games last season.
He adds to the striker group of Dominic Solanke and Richarlison at Tottenham, but reports are now emerging that suggest Kolo Muani was not Spurs’ first choice. They instead asked about signing a Premier League striker instead.
Tottenham made a ‘late enquiry’ for Mateta
Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta has a lot of fans in the Premier League, the 28-year-old has been linked with moves away from Selhurst Park, but the Eagles managed to keep hold of him, despite all the demand.
The Frenchman scored in Palace’s 3-0 win against Aston Villa in their last game, but it turns out that he could have been celebrating in the white of Tottenham instead. According to Sky Sports Journalist Kaveh Solhekol, Spurs made a ‘late enquiry’ to sign Mateta in the transfer window before they added Kolo Muani.
Solhekol said: “There was also a late enquiry - but no bid - from Tottenham Hotspur before they signed Randal Kolo Muani on loan from Paris Saint-Germain on deadline day.”
He continued to say that Palace turned down bids of up to £50m for Mateta during the transfer window, and so they finished the window just having lost Eberechi Eze to Arsenal, after Marc Guehi’s move to Liverpool broke down too.
Could Spurs sign Mateta in January?
The biggest issue concerning the striker spot at Spurs is Solanke’s injury history, so Frank needs a reliable second option. The Danish manager will hope Kolo Muani can be that player.
However, Kolo Muani is more of a pacey striker who can play as a winger, and he isn’t a true target man like Solanke. If Tottenham had managed to sign Mateta, he would be that focal point target player up front that Spurs have been crying out for since Harry Kane left the club.
If Solanke’s struggles continue, Spurs could make a move for Mateta in January, especially as they haven’t spent transfer budget on Kolo Muani, meaning they do have funds to spend. Furthermore, if Palace can replace Mateta, then a deal could look more likely, as the Eagles are not afraid to cash in on their best players, as we saw with Eze’s move to Arsenal.
A £50m price tag has been touted for Mateta, though, and for a 28-year-old, that is a hefty fee for Spurs to reach. The only other way around is that Spurs could potentially offer someone like Richarlison in a swap deal, to give Palace more of an incentive; The Brazilian’s contract will have just one year left come the end of the season.