Thomas Frank believes Randal Kolo Muani can offer Tottenham Hotspur something different
Tottenham Hotspur secured a move for Randal Kolo Muani on deadline day as Daniel Levy brought in a new central forward after weeks of shuffling between targets all summer. And the deal to bring the Frenchman to Hotspur Way has excited many, given that the Dane head coach has made it clear how excited he is to work with the 25-year-old.
The former Brentford manager was all enthusiasm about the latest addition to his roster while showcasing how the Frenchman exactly fits into his playing style and vision at Hotspur Way.
Speaking in an official interview with TottenhamHotspur.com, Frank said:
“He’s a good age, in the prime of his career, has good qualities that will suit both us and the Premier League, and gives us a different option in the final third, being able to play out wide and through the middle.
“We are all excited for what Randal can add to the squad, and I’m looking forward to working with him.”
Muani has that big stage experience that Tottenham lack…
The former Frankfurt striker comes to Hotspur Way not in the manner of a raw prospect, which the Lilywhites faithful have become familiar with given the sign-them-young transfer policy that Tottenham have recently adopted. But he comes as someone who has already seen football at the very highest level.
Playing in those Champions League knockout fixtures and that World Cup final alongside years leading the line in the Bundesliga and Ligue 1, he is already someone who knows how to play under pressure. So in Muani, Tottenham have not signed just a goal-scoring striker but someone who has been battle-hardened by elite occasions in his career.
Let us look at those words from Frank with scrutiny
If you look at those words above closely, there is something telling about Frank’s words when he says “different option”. To me (like many other Tottenham supporters), it would indicate that the Frenchman (unlike Richarlison) would thrive on graft and aggression given how he is fluid and mobile.
We know that the 26-year-old likes to drift wide and link up play. Ideally this helps him draw defenders out of position and unsettle defences, which is exactly the sort of profile Frank has been using at Brentford for years, and this versatility could be vital in the upcoming weeks.
We have seen the likes of Wilson Odobert and Brennan Johnson having become those direct channel runners, and with the signing of Xavi Simons, Tottenham also have that creator, and now Kolo Muani can end up being that much-needed connector.
The Lilywhites’ latest arrival will have his first chance to impress the North Londoners after the international break when Tottenham are set to face West Ham. Are you excited about Muani at Tottenham? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.