Transfer News
£36m striker arrives Manchester to Undergo Man United Medical ‘Today’
£36m striker arrives Manchester to Undergo Man United Medical ‘Today’
Joshua Zirkzee is set to join Manchester United, becoming the first major signing of the INEOS era.
Zirkzee’s impressive season with Bologna has attracted interest from AC Milan, Arsenal and United.
United have avoid triggering Zirkzee’s €40m release clause, instead paying €42.5m over three years.
Joshua Zirkzee, the first big signing of the INEOS era, will go through his Manchester United medical on Friday after the Red Devils and Bologna finally agreed on a price for his services on Thursday morning.
Zirkzee’s outstanding Serie A season for Bologna elevated him to a prominent position before to the summer transfer window.
With 11 league goals, his team finished fifth in the division and earned a Champions League spot in the process.
Although Arsenal, who are looking to add a new striker to the squad ahead of Gabriel Jesus, and AC Milan were strongly connected to a move for his services, David Ornstein believes that United has won the race.
The report states that Zirkzee will undergo a medical at United on Friday ahead of his proposed move from Bologna, having been a vital part of their superb Serie A season that saw the club qualify for the Champions League for the first time in 59 years.
Having been dumped out of the European Championships in dramatic fashion against England, the Netherlands striker has now officially finished his season, and will fly to the United Kingdom on Thursday evening ahead of his signing process.
United have chosen not to trigger his €40million (£34m) release clause, but instead pay Bologna a slightly inflated fee worth €42.5m (£35.8m) over the course of three years, with the release clause conditions meaning it had to be paid up front – effectively freeing up funds to sign other targets than the former Bayern Munich starlet.
Zirkzee will sign a contract for five years, with an extra club option for a further 12 months – and it means that United have now finally signed a replacement striker for Anthony Martial who left the club after his contract expired at the start of the month.
Zirkzee will now challenge Rasmus Hojlund for first-team minutes after the Dane joined the Red Devils last season, and with their newest attacker offering a different style of play than his teammate, it will give Erik ten Hag tactical freedom where he can tailor his needs to the situation.