01 December 2023 , 09:51
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Manchester United may have spent an eye-watering £72m on striker Rasmus Hojlund five months ago but, not satisfied with their attacking options, they are now weighing up a potential January move for the Bundesliga’s top scorer after Harry Kane.
Stuttgart centre forward Serhou Guirassy has a £15m release clause and is being viewed as capable of providing competition for Hojlund, who has shown flashes of his talent since injuring a hamstring but lacks consistency.
Guirassy tops the January wishlist at Old Trafford having scored 15 times in 10 Bundesliga appearances. The Guinea international, 27, only made the permanent move to Stuttgart this summer after spending last season on loan from Rennes.
In an interview with the Guardian last month Guirassy said he would love to play in the Premier League but was equally enjoying his time at Stuttgart.
“I cannot hide these things – everyone knows the Premier League is one of the most competitive leagues in the world,” he said. “But at this time I don’t close any doors. There are some very big teams in Europe and it’s not focused only on the Premier League.
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“At Stuttgart we have such a good team and everything is possible in football. If we can continue to be humble like we have been so far then we have a good chance.”
United head coach Erik ten Hag is also keen on signing a new centre back but United’s recruitment plans remain in a state of flux while Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s £1.3bn deal to buy 25 per cent of the club waits to be ratified.
Ratcliffe’s INEOS group will take control of football operations once the deal is completed, and that should see a shift in focus around transfers, but the partial takeover has been beset by delays.
United are clinging on to hopes of progressing in the Champions League by a thread after another self-inflicted draw away to Galatasaray on Wednesday. They must beat Bayern Munich at Old Trafford later this month while hoping the result between Copenhagen and Galatasaray goes their way.
Results in the Premier League have seen an upturn, with five wins from the past six moving them to fifth position.
But United make the trip to fellow top-four hopefuls Newcastle United tomorrow evening with up to eight players ruled out through injury.