Stuttgart chairman Alexander Wehrle has played down speculation that Serhou Guirassy could be set to leave in the summer, insisting the striker ‘feels really comfortable’ at the club.

Guirassy, 28, has enjoyed a magnificent campaign in the Bundesliga and has been instrumental in Stuttgart securing Champions League football for next season, netting 25 times in 26 games – with only Harry Kane outscoring the forward this term.

However, speculation has been mounting that Guirassy could be set for the exit door at the MHPArena, with some of Europe’s elite teams believed to queuing up for the prolific Guinea international.

Arsenal have been credited with a strong interest in Guirassy’s services, with the Gunners on the hunt for a centre-forward, and Manchester United held discussions with the attacker before the January transfer window.

But Guirassy still has two years remaining on his current contract with Stuttgart and it appears the club are confident they can convince their star man to stay on for another season.

‘It was already clear last summer that he was leaving and I already heard in the winter where he is said to have already signed,’ Stuttgart chairman Wehrle told Sky Germany.

‘The fact is: He feels really comfortable, he is an undisputed leader for the first time in his career, he knows what he has in Sebastian Hoeness and the coaching team.

‘He can now also play the Champions League. That’s another argument.

‘For many it is clear that he is leaving, for me it is not at all clear.

‘But we will sit down after the season.’

It’s understood AC Milan, Roma, Atletico Madrid and Newcastle are all in the running to land Guirassy, as well as Arsenal and United, with Stuttgart braced for a possible bidding war at the end of the season.

The sought-after ex-Rennes and Amiens star has a €17.5million (£15m) release clause in his contract at Stuttgart.

Reports emanating out of Germany over the winter suggested Guirassy was ‘flattered’ to be linked with a move to Old Trafford after the Red Devils made an approach to secure his services.

‘In football you can never exclude anything, so I won’t do that here either,’ Stuttgart head coach Hoeness said at the time.

‘I think he feels very comfortable. Of course, I hope he stays with us for a long time, just has a good time with us.

‘But with him and with the others, it is never possible to exclude things.’

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