“I warned him not to join Manchester United, but he went and accepted their offer and now he is regretting, Let’s see if his career won’t end like that of Antony and Casemiro,” Sky sports journalist confirmed that his £60M Spanish teammate has agreed to personal terms with Manchester United to join next week
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The Transfer Dealsheet
Manchester United exploring deal to sign Joshua Zirkzee from Bologna
Joshua Zirkzee of Bologna FC looks on during the serie A TIM match between SSC Napoli and Bologna FC at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on May 11, 2024 in Naples, Italy (Photo by Giuseppe Maffia/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
By David Ornstein
Jun 18, 2024
Manchester United are exploring a deal to sign Dutch striker Joshua Zirkzee from Bologna.
Club-to-club talks have yet to take place but United are speaking to the 23-year-old’s representatives and their interest is advanced.
The Premier League side are considering an approach to their Serie A counterparts as they weigh up Zirkzee among a number of candidates to strengthen manager Erik ten Hag’s attack.
Zirkzee’s contract includes a €40million (£34m) release clause that potentially makes the situation more straightforward, but discussions would still be needed with Bologna — while his salary and agent commissions are also factors.
The Netherlands youth international — a late call-up to their senior squad for the European Championship — has a range of options himself following an impressive 2023-24 campaign.
Zirkzee thrived under Thiago Motta at Bologna, scoring 11 league goals and providing five assists as they achieved Champions League qualification for the first time.
Having joined Bayern Munich’s academy from Eredivisie side Feyenoord as a 16-year-old, Zirkzee was loaned to Italian side Parma and Anderlecht before joining Bologna for €8.5m in 2022.
Zirkzee was only called up to Ronald Koeman’s 26-man squad for Euro 2024 after Frenkie de Jong and Atalanta midfielder Teun Koopmeiners’ withdrawals through injury.
He was an unused substitute in the Netherlands’ 2-1 victory over Poland on Sunday.
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Man United target Zirkzee: Striker with a ‘unicorn’ skill set who offers something different
How could he fit in at United?
United could do with a profile in attack to help goalkeeper Andre Onana’s long passes or Lisandro Martinez’s line-splitters from central defence stick up front.
Though Hojlund showed signs of impressive movement and finishing ability in his 2023-24 debut season at Old Trafford, he did not always convince while leading the line under Erik ten Hag, where the transitional nature of United’s play meant too much was often asked of him.
With a partner such as Zirkzee, who is more comfortable dropping deeper and linking with attackers, Hojlund could be freed of the burden of facing both centre-backs to use his qualities higher up the pitch.
For games in which Ten Hag opts for a sole striker, their differing profiles mean there will always be an alternative available from the bench.
Elias Burke
go-deeper
GO DEEPER
The Transfer DealSheet: United’s Branthwaite move, Yoro latest, Zirkzee interest
(Giuseppe Maffia/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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