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.
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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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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
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(Giuseppe Maffia/NurPhoto via Getty Images)