Why this bargain Bundesliga striker should choose Newcastle United over Man Utd

It is not hard to see why Stuttgart striker Serhou Guirassy has quickly become one of the hottest properties in European football.

The Guinea international has been in blistering form in the Bundesliga after plundering his way to 16 goals in just 11 league games, a tally that sees him sitting in second place in the current top goalscorers list in German football's top tier. Only England captain Harry Kane can boast a better record after he hit 18 goals in his first 12 league appearances for Bayern Munich after he made a reported £86.5m move to the reigning champions during the summer transfer window.

With barely a third of the season now completed, Guirassy's total includes two hat-tricks against Wolfsburg and Mainz and three braces as he helped his side to comfortable wins against Bochum, Freiburg and Darmstadt. The 27-year-old's lethal form in front of goal has played a major part in helping Stuttgart become realistic challengers for a place in next season's Champions League just months after avoiding relegation with a 6-1 aggregate win in a play-off with Bundesliga II side Hamburg.

But now, with the January transfer window rapidly approaching, speculation over Guirassy's future at Stuttgart has increased, with Newcastle United, Manchester United and Fulham all said to be considering a move for his services in the new year. The latter of the Premier League trio have cooled their interest according to Football Insider - and that has left the Uniteds of Newcastle and Manchester to move into 'pole position' for the striker.

So, if offers do come to fruition when the winter trading period opens for business, where should Guirassy opt to move? Firstly, we should point out the striker has stressed his delight over Stuttgart's remarkable turnaround in fortunes, despite admitting he would not close the door on a potential Premier League switch. He could well opt to see out the season in Germany and look to help his current employers qualify for the Champions League for the first time since the 2009/10 season.

But if a Premier League move is too tempting and one of the two Uniteds move to trigger the reported £15m release clause in his contract, where should Guirassy ply his trade? They say it is easy to kick a man when he's down, and given the current state of affairs at Old Trafford, it may well feel as if suggesting any potential signing should avoid joining Erik ten Hag's squad would be like swift hoof in the stomach.

But there seems so much uncertainty surrounding the 13-time Premier League champions at this point in time. Ten Hag is fumbling around, trying to find a magic formula that doesn't seem to be there with the current ingredients. Reports have suggested he has lost the dressing room and it would be foolish to ignore the attitudes of some of his players during Saturday's defeat at Newcastle. Putting a positive into a large dose of negatives, there should be some clarity over the ownership situation at Old Trafford as Sir Jim Ratcliffe is finally expected to confirm the purchase of a 25% share in the club next week.

By contrast, in a rare period of serenity at Newcastle, things seem calm and almost uncomfortably positive. Despite his squad being buried beneath a mountain of injuries, Eddie Howe continues to make progress in a number of competitions despite being without a lengthy list of absentees. There is a plan to continually improve the squad with hard work on the training pitch and further shrewd additions in the mould of Bruno Guimaraes, Sven Botman and Anthony Gordon.

The Magpies style of play is front-foot, in your face, and full of attacking threat - a dream for any striker confident in their own ability. At present, Howe's side are the third highest goalscorers in the Premier League and create chances aplenty across a number of competitions. Guirassy would find competition in Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson when the latter returns from injury - but he would make the most of walking into a welcoming environment and one that has brought the best out of many players taking their first steps at Premier League level.