Fulham plots January transfer of Bundesliga's top scorer

Serhou Guirassy is a name that many teams, including Fulham, are looking to steal in the January transfer window. The Guinea international leads the Bundesliga scoring charts after eight games. He has an absurd 14 goals in eight appearances with Stuttgart. He is a major part of the reason the club sits second in the Bundesliga table with seven wins and one loss.

Stuttgart only bought Guirassy this past summer in a move worth $10 million. They put a release clause in his contract for the relatively paltry sum of $20 million. Therefore, clubs can activate that transfer with relative ease. With how regularly Guirassy is scoring in this season’s Bundesliga, that fee is minimal. He has scored two goals in one game on three occasions this season. He already has two hat tricks as well.

Of all the teams targeting Guirassy, Fulham needs his services the most. After losing Aleksandar Mitrovic to a Saudi Arabian transfer, the goals have dried up at Craven Cottage. Fulham has scored eight goals through nine Premier League games. Guirassy had eight goals this season after four games with Stuttgart. Guirassy presents an affordable option for the club to answer its goal-scoring woes.

Fulham keeping taps on Serhou Guirassy among other strikers

To keep things open, Guirassy is not the only player Fulham is keeping an eye on. For example, the Independent claimed the London club is tracking Genk’s Gift Orban, Southampton’s Carlos Alcaraz and Sporting’s Geny Catamo. However, none of those equate to the output of Guirassy early on in 2023/24. He leads the top five European leagues with goals.

Guirassy was on loan with Stuttgart last season before making a permanent move from Stade Rennais this summer. He scored 14 goals in 29 games last season, which was a decent return. His price stayed low in a diluted market for strikers who made transfers.

For example, Fulham paid $27 million for Alex Iwobi and $8 million for Raul Jimenez. Those two have a combined 15 appearances and zero goals for Fulham this season. Guirassy would be a cheap option that can score goals, as seen with his recent seasons at Stuttgart.

Can Stuttgart retain its striker?

If, or rather when, Fulham or another club comes calling, Stuttgart will attempt to fight to hold on to Serhou Guirassy. Fortunately for the German side, Guirassy stated he wants to stay with Stuttgart through January. Currently, the Guinean is dealing with an injury that will sideline him for around three weeks. Still, his commitment and injury have not slowed down transfer buzz.

For example, Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham are joining Fulham in the hunt for Guirassy. Those clubs have deep pockets that could sway Stuttgart to sell its commodity to the highest bidder. Any team that goes above $20 million would get automatic access to the player, though, unless he personally denies the move to the Premier League. His impact will become apparent as Stuttgart looks to maintain its form without Guirassy against Hoffenheim next weekend in a top-six clash.

PHOTO: IMAGO / Sportfoto Rudel, ZUMA Wire.