Joshua Zirkzee will undergo a Manchester United medical on Friday ahead of his proposed transfer from Bologna.
With the Netherlands eliminated from the European Championship following Wednesday’s 2-1 defeat by England, Zirkzee will fly to the UK on Thursday evening ahead of his medical.
United have not triggered the €40million (£34m) release clause in Zirkzee’s contract but will instead pay €42.5m and stagger their payments to Bologna over a three-year period. Had United triggered the clause they would have had to pay it in full.
Zirkzee will sign a five-year contract with United, as reported by The Athletic on Tuesday. That deal will contain an option for a further 12 months.
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United had prioritised the arrival of a forward this summer after Anthony Martial left the club upon the expiration of his contract, which had left Rasmus Hojlund as the only recognised central striker in Erik ten Hag’s squad. United view Zirkzee as having a complementary skillset to Hojlund and being capable of strengthening their range of possibilities up front.
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Zirkzee joined Bayern Munich’s youth system from Feyenoord in 2017 and made 17 first-team appearances for the German club, scoring four goals.
The forward had loan spells at Parma and Anderlecht — scoring 18 goals at the Belgian club in the 2021-22 season, earning him a permanent transfer to Bologna at the end of that campaign.
The Dutchman finished the 2023-24 season as Bologna’s top scorer, netting 11 goals and providing five assists as he played a key role in helping the Italian club to secure a berth in the Champions League group stage for the first time since 1963-64.
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An important addition for Ten Hag
Analysis by Mark Critchley
After playing Jadon Sancho as a false nine in United’s pre-season friendly win against Arsenal last summer, Ten Hag was asked when he wanted to sign a new striker. “Last year!”, was his reply.
Hojlund would soon be through the door but Ten Hag was still short of options up front due to Martial’s unavailability, which placed a heavy burden on Hojlund’s shoulders.
That burden should now be lifted and by very different type of striker. Zirkzee’s ability to drop off and link-up play sits in contrast to Hojlund’s more traditional qualities as a No. 9 but gives United’s attack added variety.
A fluid dribbler with the physicality to hold up the ball and bring others into play, Zirkzee will become the first signing of the INEOS era. How much playing time he takes from Hojlund — who played 2,158 minutes in the Premier League last season — will be intriguing.
But for a combined fee of €117.5m over the course of two summers, United have a pair of talented young centre-forwards that could lead their line for many years to come. And they may not be done yet.
Although mostly deployed as a striker by Bologna, Zirkzee is also capable of playing as a wide forward and there remains a possibility United re-enter the centre-forward market before the summer is out. Would that be enough strikers for you, Erik?
(Emilio Andreoli/Getty Images)