West Ham and Manchester United are locking horns to try and sign one of the most in-form players in Europe, Serhou Guirassy.
West Ham’s new technical director Tim Steidten was widely regarded to have overseen one of the best windows in the Premier League.
But, as we reported last week, the Red Devils want to try and hijack the move by signing the Guinea international themselves next month.
But his reasons suggest he may be more inclined to join the Hammers over Man United as the 27-year-old late bloomer wants the guarantee of being the number one striker.
Speaking to Sky Germany Stuttgart sporting director Fabian Wohlgemuth has admitted to some difficult arguments with Guirassy over his future.
That comes after the player refused to allow Stuttgart to buy out his contract – which contains a bargain £17m release clause – so that they could fetch a higher price for Europe’s second highest goalscorer.
When asked about interest from the likes of West Ham and Man United, Wohlgemuth said he hopes Guirassy is convinced to stay for the rest of the season by the love of the fans.
“It is the case that he had arguments for himself and we had arguments for ourselves, in a situation that was far more difficult than today to extend the contract,” the sporting director said.
“Today, the arguments that speak for us actually weigh even more heavily. He feels how the fans love him. He feels how the team needs him. And he also feels how everyone wishes that he stays here with us.
“He’s a highly decent guy and that doesn’t leave him cold. So, we do everything that is in our hands and it will certainly not fail for us.”
But if West Ham and Man United activate his release clause in January then they will have the chance to get him around a table.
And both would likely offer to double or treble his current salary – as well as the chance to play in the best league in the world.
Then there is the Steidten factor in negotiations as well as the fact lines of communication are already open between the Hammers and Stuttgart after the deal which took Konstantinos Mavropanos to east London for £17m in the summer.
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