MANCHESTER UNITED EXPECTED TO MEET €40 MILLION RELEASE CLAUSE FOR BOLOGNA STRIKER JOSHUA ZIRKZEE
Manchester United are expected to meet the €40 million (£34 million) release clause for Bologna striker Joshua Zirkzee, as first reported by Sky Sports’ Dharmesh Sheth.
According to multiple reports, the 6-foot-4 forward is attracting interest from other teams across Europe including Arsenal, AC Milan and Juventus and could move elsewhere this summer. Milan were close to signing Zirkzee earlier in the transfer window and are expected to remain aggressive in pursuing the young Dutchman.
United are thought to be on the market for a center forward in this transfer window and according to Sky Sports’ Dharmesh Sheth, the club is pursuing other forward options while trying to be careful not to stunt the growth of 21-year-old striker Rasmus Hojlund, who United signed from Atalanta for £72 million last summer.
Zirkzee could complement Hojlund in a striking partnership, a role the 23-year-old played successfully at Bologna alongside winger Dan Ndoye. Zirkzee scored 11 goals and provided 5 assists last season, a feat the Schiedam-born forward attributed to four-time Serie A Coach of the Month, Thiago Motta.
“I’m not a pure center forward,” said Zirkzee. “I said a year ago that I liked playing with an incredible partner. But Motta transformed me into a 9 and a half. I’m not an Arnautvoic type, I like to come forward after playing the ball and help the team. And score goals.”
The move for Zirkzee is puzzling to some considering Hojlund’s attacking presence at United. The Dane had a promising first season at the club despite United’s lack of creativity in attack last year. Hojlund scored 10 goals in the Premier League and added 2 assists on the way to be Manchester United’s top scorer in the league, tied with attacking midfielder Bruno Fernandes. United legend Dwight Yorke, in particular, was dumbfounded by reports that United were trying to acquire Zirkzee.
“Names like Joshua Zirkzee being linked to Man United is baffling,” said Yorke. “They need a player who can definitely score goals. They need someone who knows how to play in the Premier League. Why would you need 23-year-old Zirkzee when you have 21-year-old Rasmus Hojlund already at the club?”
“Erik ten Hag needs an experienced man at striker alongside Hojlund, as he obviously struggled towards the end of the season. Niclas Fullkrug is one of those experienced strikers who has been smashing in the goals lately. But, he needs to be the right character.”
Yorke also chimed in on player mentality needing to be a consideration when signing players at Manchester United, a character that has been lacking around the club for some time now.
“To be at United, you need to show resilience and not a weak mentality,” Yorke went on. “That’s what Sir Alex Ferguson was good at finding. That’s why I think Hojlund needs to grow up very quickly. The honeymoon period is over for him and if he doesn’t hit the ground running next season, he will come under a lot of scrutiny. You have to be a man to play at United.”
If United’s move for Zirkzee doesn’t materialize, the club is thought to have other targets on their transfer list this summer. The club has also been linked to Lille forward Jonathan David, Brentford’s Ivan Toney and Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres.
Zirkzee is currently with the Netherlands squad in Germany at EURO 2024 and isn’t expected to sign on the dotted line until after his tournament with the national team. The young forward’s £34 million release clause also only becomes active on July 1st and is expected to remain valid until mid-August.
Manchester United’s decision to meet Zirkzee’s release clause gives the club first right to talk to the player and his representatives. The club should thus discuss details about the salary, contract and commission as they speed along the transfer process.
-Maher Abucheri
Twitter: @pabloikonyero
Photo: Sven Mandel. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.