Two European giants are set to do battle over the summer signature of Austrian international center forward Saša Kalajdžić as Manchester United and Bayern Munich are both prepared to view the big striker as a credible transfer option when the window opens.

Those reports originated from Sky Sports in Germany earlier this morning, with quotes from Kalajdžić stating “There is nothing concrete on the table from Bayern or others.”

In a tweet from the news outlet, Manchester United was listed as one of the European heavyweights thought to be interested in the former Admira Wacker Mödling forward, who has since been a leading light for Bundesliga outfit VfB Stuttgart since his breakout season in 2020-21 when he bagged 16-goals in 33-appearances.

The rumors were since corroborated by the likes of Marc Behrenbeck, Christian Falk, and others, but Bayern at the moment seems to be leading the pack which is also said to include Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain.

Manchester United enter race for Austrian forward Saša Kalajdžić; to compete with Bayern Munich

STUTTGART, GERMANY – APRIL 30: Sasa Kalajdzic of VfB Stuttgart gestures during the Bundesliga match between VfB Stuttgart and VfL Wolfsburg at Mercedes-Benz Arena on April 30, 2022 in Stuttgart, Germany. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)

Kalajdžić has also dropped hints that the race could be heating up this summer when it comes to his future when he said “In the next few days, I will hold talks with Stuttgart and my agent Sascha Empacher. The hot days are coming up, not only when it comes to the weather.”

It is unclear in what capacity United would view the Austrian international, however. With the feeling in the Bayern camp that the Stuttgart forward would be a depth option rather than a forward to replace the likely outgoing Robert Lewandowski, it can be assumed that a similar view would be taken at United under Erik ten Hag.

But that, too, is unclear. Ten Hag currently deploys Sebastién Haller at Ajax as his leading center-forward, with the Ivorian boasting a similar physical and playing profile to Kalajdžić and if a move materializes, he could in theory be utilized in the same schematic at Old Trafford.