Juventus step up efforts to lure Tottenham star away from the club – this is what it could mean for wantaway Crystal Palace forward Jean-Philippe Mateta

Juventus are stepping up their efforts to prise Randal Kolo Muani out of Tottenham.

Kolo Muani, who escaped unhurt from a car accident on the M25 on Tuesday, is on loan at Spurs from Paris Saint-Germain but the spell has been disrupted by injuries and he has not scored a goal in the Premier League.

His only two goals both came against parent club PSG in the Champions League.

Thomas Frank has made it clear he cannot afford to lose any players this month such are the problems with injuries and UEFA ineligibility, but Spurs would be open to business if they could find an upgrade in a forward position.

They have been searching for a player to fill the problem on the left of the front three, but Frank has tweaked the shape of his team for the last two games to play with wing backs and two number 10s rather than wide forwards.

This brings Crystal Palace’s unsettled centre forward Jean-Philippe Mateta into the equation as the transfer deadline approaches.

Juventus have been among the clubs to declare an interest in Mateta who has made it clear he wants to join the Palace exodus.

Jean-Philippe Mateta could be one man Tottenham turn to in a bid to strengthen their forward line

Nottingham Forest, Aston Villa and AC Milan have also made enquires for the 28-year-old with Forest reported to have bid £35million. Villa have since signed Tammy Abraham from Besiktas.

For Spurs, Mateta would carry a goal threat, aerial presence and help share the workload at centre forward with Dominic Solanke and leave Mathys Tel, who has not shown as an out-and-out number nine, to compete with Wilson Odobert and Xavi Simons for positions in support of the centre forward or wide if Frank flexes formation again.

Juventus are desperate for more firepower up front.

Dusan Vlahovic is injured until March and expected to leave when his contract expires at the end of the season and Lois Openda has scored only twice since joining on loan from Leipzig.

Kolo Muani, 27, scored eight in 16 Serie A games for Juventus while on loan from PSG at the end of last season.