Manchester United are reportedly preparing to approach Eintracht Frankfurt with their opening proposal for Randal Kolo Muani.
The French attacker has exceeded expectations during his debut season with Die Adler, contributing 23 goals and 14 assists from 46 appearances in all competitions.
Muani's impressive numbers include 15 goals and 11 assists from 32 Bundesliga outings, finishing just one behind Borussia Dortmund left-back Raphael Guerreiro (12) in the playmaking category.
Frankfurt also reached the final of the DFB-Pokal and knockout stages of the Champions League with Kolo Muani leading the line, as well as qualifying for the Europa Conference League playoff round with a seventh-placed Bundesliga finish.
Despite only making the move to Frankfurt on a free transfer from Nantes last summer, the 24-year-old is already being tipped to make the step-up to a Champions League-competing club, although he is not due to become a free agent until 2027.
© Reuters
As a result, Frankfurt are reportedly hoping to keep hold of Kolo Muani for one more season, and the German giants would likely demand a fee north of £100m to consider a sale this summer.
However, the France international has confessed that he dreams of playing in the Premier League, and according to Bild - via The Mirror - Man United are set to step up their pursuit in the coming weeks.
The Red Devils are supposedly planning to approach Frankfurt with an attractive opening proposal, but Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain are also lurking in the background.
Erik ten Hag is prioritising a move for a new number nine ahead of the 2023-24 season, having been left short of options after Cristiano Ronaldo's bitter exit just before the World Cup.
Anthony Martial struggled to stay fit throughout the campaign, while Wout Weghorst's loan move from Burnley in the second half of the season did not work out for either party.
© Reuters
The Dutchman was a regular under compatriot Ten Hag with 31 goals in all competitions, but he scored just two goals for the Red Devils and is not expected to be signed permanently.
Marcus Rashford reignited his golden touch with 30 goals in all tournaments, 17 of which came in the Premier League, but the Englishman was largely used on the left-hand side of the attack.
While Kolo Muani is admired, Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Kane is still believed to be Man United's number one priority as he prepares to enter the final year of his Spurs contract.
However, with Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy reluctant to strengthen a Premier League rival, Man United are said to be increasingly pessimistic about their chances of signing the England captain.
Atalanta BC starlet Rasmus Hojlund is considered a more realistic option, while Napoli's Victor Osimhen and Benfica's Goncalo Ramos have also been mentioned as possible alternatives.