If Manchester United are to enter the January transfer market for a striker in January then Germany is where their focus could lie.

Erik ten Hag remains keen to reinforce his attacking options over the next two transfer windows, following another campaign where goals have been a problem. United spent £72million on Rasmus Hojlund in the summer but the 20-year-old is yet to score in the Premier League and needs time to develop.

Anthony Martial has been his back-up so far but The Manchester Evening News understands United would be open to selling the French international next month. If that were to happen, then it is hard to see Ten Hag not sanctioning a replacement for the Frenchman.

United have been linked with a number of options but Sky Sports suggested on Friday that any incoming could be from the Bundesliga. Ten Hag's side are said to be monitoring Stuttgart frontman Serhou Guirassy, adding that they have also expressed an interest in RB Leipzig's Timo Werner.

If United want goals from their new striker then Guirassy is the obvious option in that field. The 27-year-old has an outstanding 16 goals in 12 appearances, second only in the league to summer transfer target Harry Kane, while Werner has registered a much more modest two in eight.

Admittedly, Guirassy has played far more Bundesliga football than Werner but the Guinean's 1.65 goals per 90 minutes is almost twice as prolific as his German rival's 0.87. The Stuttgart man is also over-performing his expected goals (xG) total of 10.9, suggesting he is finishing brilliantly - Werner's xG is 2.4.

Creativity will come as a secondary demand for United's prospective new No.9 but being able to help the likes of Marcus Rashford and Antony get chances wouldn't do any harm. Guirassy is ahead in virtually every creative metric, producing more than double the key passes per 90 (2.27) and Werner (0.87).

Guirassy also averages more passes into the final third and into the penalty area per 90 minutes, despite enjoying slightly fewer touches - 43.1 compared to Werner's 48.7. That suggests that the Stuttgart man may be slightly less involved in play but far more effective when in possession.

But for Ten Hag, it is not all about danger in possession and the Dutchman is very demanding of his striker's work off the ball as well. And it is in this area that Werner has the advantage.