Lille are ready to battle Juventus for the signing of Randal Kolo Muani this summer, SportsBoom can exclusively reveal.
The Paris St Germain striker is currently on loan at Premier League Tottenham Hotspur.
Our sources have been told Spurs will not push to sign him permanently when his loan deal expires at the end of the season.
And French league leaders PSG are looking to sell the striker this summer rather than loan him out again.
It is understood Italian club Juventus, who are currently sat in sixth, are likely to revive their interest in the 27-year-old as they look to bridge the gap in the title race with no-one yet to fit double figures in Serie A for them this term.
Muani impressed on loan in Turin at the backend of last season, scoring eight goals in 16 league games.
Our sources understand internal talks have taken place among Lille bosses to offer the hitman a chance to return to France once his England excursion comes to an end.
Olivier Giroud has been a revelation since joining the club last summer despite his advancing years.
But aged 39, the club’s hierarchy know they need a contingency in place for when the former Chelsea and Arsenal stays eventually hangs up his boots.
Muani has struggled in the Premier League this term, with just a solitary strike to his name in 20 appearances.
But, like Giroud in the Europa League, Muani has saved his best performances for European competition, bagging a brace on his return to PSG and scoring away at former club Frankfurt.
In addition, Spurs are bracing for a summer exodus, with a slew of first-team regulars set to depart, including defensive duo Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero.
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The Frenchman is well travelled among Europe having played in France, Germany, Italy and England.
Muani started his career at Nantes and netted 21 league goals in 79 games for the club before going to Frankfurt where he bagged 26 times in 50 appearances.
His fine spell at the Bundesliga club led to a massive €75million, which could have risen to €90million, move to PSG where he penned five-year deal in 2023.
He struggled to hit the ground running and scored just eight league goals before being shipped out on loan to Juventus and then Spurs.