Soccer Football - FIFA Club World Cup - Round of 16 - Real Madrid v Juventus - Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida, U.S. - July 1, 2025 Juventus' Randal Kolo Muani and Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe after the match IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters/Sam Navarro
Newcastle have endured a frustrating summer transfer window so far, and after missing out on Hugo Ekitike to Liverpool, their search for a striker continues.
The Premier League champions have agreed an eye-watering £79m deal to sign the Magpies’ former target, having previously tested the waters with an approach for Alexander Isak last week.
Since rejecting Liverpool’s advances, Newcastle have also been linked with Brentford goal machine Yoane Wissa.
There has been no progress on that front, and a formal approach is yet to be made by the club’s hierarchy.
However, with another forward added to the list, it appears Eddie Howe is considering all his options.
According to Sunday Times journalist Duncan Castles, Newcastle are interested in signing Paris Saint-Germain forward Randal Kolo Muani.
Speaking on The Transfers Podcast, Castles claimed:
“Newcastle United are involved in this conversation and I think at present it looks like they are the most likely destination for Kolo Muani.
“And again, this makes you wonder, what is happening with Isak? Because of his similarities to Isak, I’m not saying that the two couldn’t be paired together, but pairing Ekitike with Isak was a simple process, an easy thing to do, and you would be bringing a player into the club who could be Isak’s successor.
“With Kolo Muani I think it would take a change in Eddie Howe’s tactical set-up to play the two together.”
How much would Kolo Muani cost?
Following the departure of Callum Wilson, it is imperative that Newcastle secure a reliable centre-forward ahead of their Champions League campaign.
The Magpies are about to embark on their tour of Singapore, following a 5-0 defeat to Celtic in their opening pre-season friendly over the weekend.
Isak was absent from the Celtic Park thrashing, with Howe revealing that the striker had been granted some breathing space after an intense week of speculation surrounding his future at the club.
The Sweden international is expected to rejoin the squad and take part in the tour as preparations ramp up for what is set to be a pivotal season for Newcastle.
It is clear that the Newcastle boss wants a striker who can play an important part in the future of the attacking threat and Kolo Muani could be a great option.
The talented Frenchman’s future is now uncertain after falling out of favour in PSG’s forward line, resulting in a half-season loan to Juventus – though he still earned a Champions League winners’ medal thanks to his four appearances for the French champions.
Over 269 club career appearances, Kolo Muani has scored 86 goals and registered 52 assists with a goal contribution tallied up every 136 minutes, which is an output that would be warmly welcomed on Tyneside.
Not only is the 26-year-old a consistent contributor in front of goal, but he is also extremely versatile with the ability and experience of playing across the front three which would be very appealing to Howe.
It’s understood that the former Bournemouth manager is keen to evolve his side’s attacking options, with the failed move for Ekitike reportedly driven by a desire to operate with two centre-forwards.
Kolo Muani’s strengths lie in his dribbling and finishing skills; he uses his pace to outsmart defenders and is a consistent counter-attacking threat, all traits that Isak is also renowned for.
PSG signed the France international for £76m in 2023, though it’s unclear how much they would now demand, given he has become surplus to requirements in Paris.
That said, if Newcastle have the funds available, a move for Kolo Muani could prove to be a no-brainer, as he fits the club’s desired profile and could be a valuable long-term asset.
About the Author
