Paris Saint-Germain boss Luis Enrique has left Randal Kolo Muani out of his squad to face Saint-Etienne, further fuelling speculation of a proposed loan move to Manchester United.
Kolo Muani, 26, joined PSG with weighty expectations on his shoulders following a £76million transfer from Bundesliga outfit Eintracht Frankfurt in 2023.
But Kolo Muani has struggled to make a significant impact in the French capital and has increasingly found himself on the periphery of Enrique’s plans, making just two starts in all competitions for the Ligue 1 champions this season.
Widespread reports emanating from across the Channel indicate that Kolo Muani is actively seeking a fresh challenge and top clubs from across Europe have been alerted to the situation this January.
Manchester United, Tottenham and Juventus are said to be the ‘leading contenders’ in this month’s race for Kolo Muani, with PSG open to the prospect of the attacker leaving on a temporary basis.
PSG bosses believe Kolo Muani could boost his confidence levels by playing regular football elsewhere in the second half of the campaign – and feel a loan deal could suit all parties.
Perhaps the biggest hint yet that Kolo Muani could be set to leave came this morning as PSG announced their squad for their upcoming clash Ligue 1 strugglers Saint-Etienne.
There was once again no place for Kolo Muani, with Enrique instead opting for the likes of Ousmane Dembele, Lee Kang-in, Desire Doue and Bradley Barcola in attack for this evening’s Parc des Princes contest.
PSG, who last term sealed their 12th league title, currently sit four points clear of second-placed Marseille at the top of the table.
Kolo Muani has been a regular in Didier Deschamps’ France squads over recent years, featuring at both the 2022 World Cup and last summer’s European Championship.
The forward’s current contract in Paris runs through to 2028.
During a recent interview with Telefoot, Kolo Muani made it clear he was frustrated with his lack of minutes under Enrique, though determined to turn his fortunes around.
‘You have to keep your mental strength up, it’s up to me to continue working so that the coach trusts me. It’s part of my history. I’ve always worked, I’ve never had things easy,’ he told the popular French television programme.
‘I have to work harder, make an impression when he calls on me. It’s up to me to give my all so that he trusts me.’
Asked if the though of leaving PSG had crossed his mind, Kolo Muani replied: ‘No, I never tried to think about that
‘I have to continue to work, show what I can do and give my all. I must not give up. If you give up, it’s over, you sink.’
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