United and Arsenal Boosted in January Approach for Dortmund's Free-Scoring Midfielder

Manchester United and Arsenal have been handed a major boost in signing Marco Reus after Borussia Dortmund executive Hans-Joachim Watzke revealed the free-scoring midfielder has a release clause in his contract.

The Express reports the English champions and the Premier League leaders are believed to be interested in signing the 24-year-old attacking midfielder in January. Reus has already scored seven goals and registered five assists in 12 league appearances this season.

The German international was a key player in Jurgen Klopp's side, which lost to Bayern Munich in the Champions League final at Wembley. Reus' form has attracted interest from England and other top clubs from Europe.

Watzke claims Reus is the only player in the first team to have a release clause and has suggested that Dortmund could lose their star midfielder because of the clause in the player's contract.

"Marco Reus possesses a release clause option in his current contract at our club. He could leave our club due to that. He is, however, the only player in our first-team squad that has such a contract clause," Watzke told SPORT1media.

Reus' contract at Signal Iduna Park runs down in 2017. The Express suggests that Dortmund are looking to enter into contract negotiations to extend his stay with the Champions League finalists beyond 2017.

Dortmund are also willing to increase his wages while offering a new deal, only to terminate the release clause in the contract.

United have had a shambolic summer transfer window after David Moyes failed to sign the players he intended on bringing to Old Trafford. Arsenal have managed to capture Mesut Ozil for a club record transfer fee of £42.5m from Real Madrid in the final week of the window.

The arrival of Ozil has seen the Gunners' form improve this season as they sit on top of the league table, leading second place Liverpool by two points. It would be unlikely that Arsene Wenger could make an approach for Reus in January, already having signed his compatriot in the summer.

Meanwhile, the Times claims the Premier League champions are considering a swap deal in signing Reus in the winter transfer window, which could see Shinji Kagawa moving in the other direction.

Should United manage to sign Reus in January, the addition of the German midfielder would bolster the Red Devils' attack for the second half of the season.