If we’re not reaching “saga” status when it comes to Juventus’ latest attempt to sign Randal Kolo Muani, we’re definitely getting close to it. That is because now, as we wait to see if RKM will ever make a return to Turin like he so desires, we have reached the stage in these latest drawn-out talks where we can speak of them as “stalled” or something along those lines.
Because that is exactly what English transfer reporter Ben Jacobs has told us on Wednesday. Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain have
been talking about Kolo Muani for weeks now, but even new CEO Giovanni Carnevali has not sounded totally convinced about what the two-time defending Champions League winners want for their want-away French striker. And because of that, despite Juventus having “priority to talks,” PSG have now opened talks up with other clubs for a potential Kolo Muani move, according to Jacobs, with “several English and German teams” having expressed interest.
This comes after French outlet Footmercato reported that Premier League sides Crystal Palace and Aston Villa have both come into the picture and are thinking of a move for Kolo Muani.
In a follow-up to his original post on Wednesday, Jacobs does say that “Kolo Muani has also made it clear to PSG he favours a move to Juventus.”
So when you hear that talks for Kolo Muani are starting to stall (again), then Carnevali’s comments about the situation a day earlier make complete sense. When Carnevali talks about how PSG’s demands have not come down and that he feels the two sides have different valuations of the player, then you can see what it’s stalling.
Kolo Muani reportedly agreed to personal terms with Juventus over two weeks ago.
That looks to be the only thing that Juventus can agree to with somebody having to do with PSG these days.
The asking price from the beginning of this round of talks between Juventus and PSG has been about €40 million. Juventus clearly aren’t going to pay that all in one lump sum and sign Kolo Muani outright this summer. If they weren’t going to do it last summer when they had Champions League (and Club World Cup!) income waiting for them, then it’s certainly not going to happen now 12 months later with the Europa League anthem files probably ready to download at the Allianz Stadium for the resident sound guys.
You have to wonder just how long Carnevali will stick with this line of thinking that a deal can get done with PSG for Kolo Muani before he ultimately pivots to different options. No matter how far Norway goes at the World Cup, Alexander Sørloth is going to be done with international duty soon and those talks will probably resume. Or maybe there’s somebody else out there that he thinks can be the striker that Juve manager Luciano Spalletti can get the best out of this coming season. (Preseason training starts in five days, folks!)
Then again, Carnevali is infamous around here for all the meetings he held with Juve for Manuel Locatelli when he was at Sassuolo. So maybe playing the long game is something he’s willing to do again for Kolo Muani.
