Chelsea could take advantage of Man Utd mistake to sign Champions League goal-machine

A decision made during the era looks worse with each passing week. And could be the team to punish them this summer, with a red-hot striker on the market at an affordable price for Europe's biggest clubs.

Ten Hag's spell at Old Trafford exposed United to a number of transfer mishaps, from spending on to giving veteran a mega-money five-year contract. One decision, made in January last year, has flown largely under the radar. indicate that United 'baulked at the idea' of shelling out £15m to meet Serhou Guirassy's release clause.

The Guinea international was midway through a 30-goal season for Stuttgart at the time, but at 27 years old, he was no spring chicken. Now 29 and playing for Borussia Dortmund, Guirassy has proved that his goal-laden campaign was no flash in the pan.

He has already hit 28 this term, and a staggering 13 of them have come in the Champions League. He added three more to his tally with a hat-trick against Barcelona on Wednesday night, moving him to the top of the competition's scoring charts.

But they will be his last, as BVB lost 5-3 on aggregate and crashed out in the quarter-finals. Rumours are already swirling about where Guirassy could end up this summer.

According to , a Premier League club is the 'favourite' to sign him, and Chelsea have shown an interest. AC Milan, Napoli and AC Milan are also believed to be admirers of the former Rennes centre-forward.

His services won't come cheap. Guirassy will turn 30 over the course of next season, but Dortmund are under no obligation to let him leave unless his is triggered. That figure puts him in a similar price range to fellow in-form strikers Victor Osimhen and Viktor Gyokeres, who are both younger.

Seeing Guirassy go to Chelsea would be a bitter blow for United in light of their own attacking issues this season. Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee have only managed three goals each in the Premier League, and Zirkzee is out for the rest of the campaign with a hamstring injury.

United are expected to sign a new striker for manager Ruben Amorim this summer, although Guirassy is not believed to be high up on their list of targets.