Tottenham Chase Kolo Muani Again but Juventus Hold All the Cards

Tottenham have made a formal offer for Randal Kolo Muani, but Juventus remain favourites to sign the France international this summer, according to Tuttosport. It is a familiar shape for a Spurs transfer story: genuine interest, a concrete bid, and a player who looks more likely to end up elsewhere.

Kolo Muani knows both clubs intimately. The 27-year-old spent the second half of last season on loan at Tottenham after an earlier loan spell at Juventus, and yet two separate auditions have not been enough to convince either side to make it permanent until now. That Juventus are still the frontrunners, despite Spurs tabling an actual offer, tells its own story about how each club is perceived by players who have experienced both dressing rooms.

Kolo Muani: Why Juventus Still Hold the Aces Over Spurs

A forward who still hasn't found a home

Paris St-Germain have loaned Kolo Muani out twice since signing him for a reported €90m in 2023, first to Juventus, then to Tottenham, and neither move produced a permanent transfer. That pattern usually means one of two things: the player is unconvinced, or the buying clubs are not willing to meet PSG's terms. In this case, it looks increasingly like both.

PSG's own situation has shifted the calculus. The Kolo Muani narrative once carried sympathy after his near-miss in the 2022 World Cup final, but that goodwill has faded as Luis Enrique's squad has moved on without him. PSG are reportedly willing to sell a player who no longer fits their plans, which is precisely why both Tottenham and Juventus are circling with concrete interest rather than speculative loan enquiries.

Juventus' habit of turning loans into permanents

Juventus have previous when it comes to converting temporary deals into permanent ones, and under Igor Tudor they are still searching for a reliable focal point up front. Kolo Muani's familiarity with the club, the fanbase and Serie A's slower physical tempo appears to be working in Juventus' favour again, even against a Tottenham side offering Premier League football and Champions League qualification.

Tottenham's Pattern: Second Choice in the Striker Market?

Why Spurs need reinforcement up front

Tottenham's interest is not cosmetic. Their current striker options, Richarlison and Dominic Solanke, have both struggled with fitness and consistency, and the club's return to the Champions League raises the stakes on getting recruitment right this summer. A manager rebuild, expected to be led by Thomas Frank, adds urgency to strengthening a forward line that lacks a proven, prolific number nine.

Kolo Muani, who scored goals for both his loan clubs last season, fits the profile Spurs are chasing. The problem is that fitting the profile and winning the race are two different things, and this saga is shaping up to be another example of Tottenham arriving with money but not necessarily the pulling power to close the deal.

A recruitment question that keeps recurring

This is not an isolated case. Spurs have repeatedly found themselves competing for in-demand forwards who ultimately choose Serie A or elsewhere, and it raises a fair question about whether the club's recruitment approach is proactive or largely reactive to the market.

• Richarlison and Solanke remain the incumbent options, both carrying question marks over fitness and output.
• Kolo Muani has already sampled Tottenham first-hand and still did not push for a permanent stay.
• Juventus, not Spurs, are the club he is being linked with as a long-term destination.

Until Tottenham land a marquee forward that a rival club is not also chasing, this pattern is likely to persist as a talking point every transfer window.

Around the Grapevine: Rashford's Barcelona Doubts and a Chaotic Friday

Arsenal move for Tzolis, Manchester United eye Kone

Arsenal are reportedly ready to finalise a £35m deal for Christos Tzolis, the 24-year-old Club Brugge and Greece winger, according to The Sun. Meanwhile Manchester United are preparing a move for France midfielder Manu Kone, who is keen to test himself in the Premier League, with Juventus reportedly open to selling the 25-year-old for the right price, per Teamtalk.

Elsewhere, Barcelona have opened talks with Borussia Dortmund over Germany winger Karim Adeyemi, according to Sky Germany, a move that raises fresh doubts over whether Marcus Rashford will return to the Nou Camp on a permanent basis following his loan spell. At 28, Rashford's future is now tangled up in Barcelona's wider forward-line planning.

The rest of Friday's list

Real Madrid have moved to shut down interest from Manchester United in Aurelien Tchouameni, with the France midfielder set to sign a new five-year contract, according to AS. Madrid reportedly refused to entertain United's approaches outright.

• Mason Greenwood is close to joining Fenerbahce, who have submitted offers to both Marseille and the player's representatives (Sky Italy).
• Crystal Palace and Fulham could move for Southampton's Shea Charles after Leeds had two offers rejected (Sky Sports).
• Coventry are set to sign Switzerland defender Aurele Amenda from Eintracht Frankfurt for £17m (Bild).
• Aston Villa are expected to resist Juventus interest in goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez (Birmingham World).

None of this is confirmed business. As with most Friday gossip columns, these stories can shift within days, and today's favourites can become tomorrow's afterthoughts.

What happens next

The Kolo Muani situation is likely to move quickly once PSG settle on a valuation they are comfortable accepting. If Juventus remain favourites, expect Tottenham to either increase their offer to force the issue or pivot toward alternative striker targets before pre-season begins in earnest.

For Arsenal and the Tzolis deal, a £35m fee suggests advanced talks rather than an opening bid, so a confirmed announcement could follow within days rather than weeks. Manchester United's pursuit of Kone and Barcelona's Adeyemi talks are earlier stage stories, meaning Rashford's Nou Camp future and United's midfield rebuild both remain genuinely unresolved heading into the heart of the window.