Tottenham Hotspur striker Randal Kolo Muani will stay on the sidelines for an extended period
Tottenham Hotspur have finally found a little run of progress under the new manager, Thomas Frank, this season. They also signed players in the summer transfer window to bolster their squad after the Europa League win last season. However, as the saying goes, football is a game of ups and downs, and it never gives you smoother periods for long.
Spurs have struggled with their home form in the Premier League this season, which was aggravated by their 2-2 draw against Manchester United on November 9. However, the bigger blow came when French striker Randal Kolo Muani suffered a jaw injury during that game after a collision with United’s sturdy defender Harry Maguire.
Tottenham’s physio initially claimed that the injury seemed to be a minor one, but detailed scans on Sunday confirmed a fracture, which even forced the French Football Federation to not call him up for the upcoming FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.
What’s the latest update?
Meanwhile, journalist Chris Cowlin has reported that the 26-year-old could now miss six to eight weeks if he has to undergo surgery, and his absence might stretch for months. The north London club now has to find a quick alternative.
The Frenchman made a name for himself during his spell at Nantes and enjoyed his best spell at Eintracht Frankfurt. He was also influential in the Qatar World Cup in 2022. However, since moving to Paris Saint-Germain, Kolo Muani has struggled to find his footing and would have hoped to get back on track with his loan move to N17 this summer.
What’s next for Spurs?
The Frenchman has been part of three Premier League matches and four Champions League matches so far this season. While he hasn’t yet got his name on the scoresheet for Spurs, his presence as a lone striker in Frank’s 4-2-3-1 system was quite important.
Kolo Muani linked up play and held up the ball with his physical presence, and his extended absence now removes a valuable attacking dimension that was just beginning to emerge. The situation complicates matters for a team that has been struggling to build momentum, especially at home, while breaking teams that sit back and defend.
Frank will now need his other new signing, Mohammed Kudus, back on the field sooner rather than later, and will hope for him to shoulder much of the attacking responsibility. Spurs also need Richarlison to bring consistency to his game and make his presence felt for much of the game. Meanwhile, it is quite certain that Tottenham will be looking at the January transfer window for a striker, as they have been linked with options like Ivan Toney and Jonathan David.