Manchester United make contact with agent of "crazy" striker also linked with Liverpool and Arsenal

Manchester United have reportedly contacted Marcus Thuram's agent to sound out a potential deal for the France international striker.

Thuram, the son of legendary French defender Lilian Thuram, is out of contract with Borussia Monchengladbach at the end of the season.

The 25-year-old, who could be a potential bargain in the January transfer window, is wanted by several clubs after scoring 13 goals in 17 appearances for Monchengladbach in all competitions this season.

He also caught the eye at the World Cup in Qatar, making five substitute appearances for runners-up France.

Thuram is free to negotiate a pre-contract agreement with foreign clubs from January onwards and Monchengladbach could be prepared to sell the striker next month rather than risk losing him on a free in the summer.

Last year, they opted to sell Dennis Zakaria to Juventus in similar circumstances, with the midfielder nearing the end of his deal with the German club.

United contact Thuram's agent

According to 90min, United have contacted Thuram's representatives over a potential deal.

However, the Red Devils face stiff competition for his signature, with Arsenal, Aston Villa, Tottenham and Newcastle also interested in the striker.

Italian club Inter Milan have also been linked with Thuram and are said to have prepared a pre-contract offer for the forward, who was described as "a little crazy" by Zakaria during their time together at Monchengladbach.

Inter's rivals AC Milan and Juventus have also expressed an interest in signing Thuram, who has scored 41 goals in 119 appearances for Monchengladbach.

However, the most "concrete" interest is said to be from Newcastle, who are prepared to sign the striker in January – rather than waiting for his current deal to expire in the summer.

Monchengladbach's asking price is believed to be just £10m, which is said to fit into Newcastle’s budget "as they also hope to bring in a midfielder and a right-back this window".

Newcastle winger Allan Saint-Maximin recently revealed that he has recommended the club to Thuram.

"He is a great player and I hope we have a chance to take him here. Yeah, I will be honest, I have chatted with him," said Saint-Maximin.

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe has thanked Saint-Maximin for putting in a good word with Thuram but played down the club's interest in the France international.

"Well done, Maxi! He [Thuram] is a top player. But yeah, no more than that," Howe said.

"He’s one that I watched in the World Cup for sure but no more than that."