Liverpool missed a chance to sign Randal Kolo Muani for free. Now they could reportedly pay upwards of £50m.
Foot Mercato reported this week that Liverpool want Randal Kolo Muani. They’ve enjoyed his efforts for Frankfurt this season, apparently – efforts that got him into France’s World Cup squad.
Kolo Muani has five Bundesliga goals this season but his all-around play is really catching the eye. Liverpool aren’t the only club looking at him, either, as Tottenham Hotspur also consider a move.
Frankfurt don’t wish to sell, however. Or at least, they don’t wish to sell on the cheap. Bild believes they wouldn’t listen to any offer beneath £50m.
That’s a lot of money for the 24-year-old – even if he is good enough for France’s incredible World Cup squad. What makes it even harder to take, though, is that the Reds could have had him for free.
Randal Kolo Muani for free
Bild claimed at the start of the year that Liverpool wanted Kolo Muani. They’d fail to get him, of course, as he instead moved to Frankfurt.
The thing is, Liverpool were looking at Kolo Muani as his contract wound down at Nantes. He only moved to Germany in the summer – and did so on a free transfer.
Frankfurt, then, got a bargain. They brought him in without a transfer fee and would now demand £50m if someone wants him. They got a France international and an instant profit – if they want it.
Would Liverpool spend £50m on Kolo Muani if they could have got him for free? On the one hand, you’ve got to take every opportunity in isolation. The striker is no longer free, so is he worth £50m now?
Our feeling is that Liverpool won’t value him at that or anywhere near it. If they did, we imagine they’d have pushed harder to get him on a free earlier in the year. It’s hard to see how six months of football could push the Reds from considering but not going all-out for a free transfer to being willing to part with £50m.
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