Man Utd 'join' AC Milan and Newcastle United in race for 16-goal striker with £15m release clause

Newcastle United will have to see off Premier League rivals Manchester United if they are to win the race to sign Stuttgart striker Sehrou Guirassy.

The Guinea international has been in stunning form so far this season after plundering his way to 16 goals in just 11 games in all competitions for the Bundesliga club and that has reportedly captured the attention of several clubs around Europe.

FootMercato have claimed Newcastle face major competition from Serie A duo Roma and AC Milan for the in-form striker, who is said to have a release clause of around £15m in his current contract at Stuttgart.

However, the report also revealed Guirassy is now under consideration by Manchester United as Erik ten Hag looks to resolve his issues in forward areas. Although he has scored five goals in as many Champions League appearances, Rasmus Hojlund is yet to find the net in nine Premier League games since moving to Old Trafford in a reported £72m deal during the summer transfer window.

Hojlund’s five goals means he sits alongside midfielder Bruno Fernandes as the Red Devils top goalscorer in all competitions this season, with Scott McTominay and Casemiro both finding the net on four occasions. Forward duo Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial have two goals each and winger Alejandro Garnacho has three after his stunning overhead kick against Everton last weekend.

With interest in their prize asset now increasing with every passing week as he continues to find the net with regularity, Stuttgart are believed to be keen to hand Guirassy a new contract increasing the release clause in his current deal.

Head coach Sebastian Hoeness has already discussed what could lie ahead for the striker, saying: "I think he feels really comfortable. Of course, I hope he will stay with us for a long time, that he will simply have a good time with us. But with him and with others, it is never possible to exclude things."

The FootMercato report has also claimed the striker is not ‘closing the door’ on potential offers from elsewhere and will be ‘attentive’ to any propositions put his way over the coming weeks as the January transfer window rapidly approaches.