Manchester United are moving with ambition in this summer’s transfer market.
Matthijs de Ligt is looking increasingly likely as a £42m recruit from Bayern Munich, with a pursuit of Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite also still expected to properly beef up the defensive ranks.
Then, there is Joshua Zirkzee and the £34m release clause in his contract with Bologna that makes the 23-year-old attacker another potential steal given his existing quality and room to improve.
The centre of defence and up front were the two most pressing recruitment concerns for United coming into this summer off the back of releasing Raphael Varane and Anthony Martial.
So to nail both good and early would be a massive statement of intent.
De Ligt is well known. He was starring for Erik ten Hag in the Champions League with Ajax – a kick away from the 2019 final – as a teenager, and has since commanded massive transfer fees to move to Juventus and subsequently Bayern. But Zirkzee is a slightly different quantity.
The Dutchman hasn’t come out of nowhere. He joined Bayern as a 16-year-old and went on to score four goals in his first nine Bundesliga appearances at the ages of 18 and 19.
And, although he took a loan move to Belgium to gain first-team exposure in 2021/22, a switch to Bologna has been the making of him. That culminated in the club qualifying for Champions League football.
When United were first known to be in the market for a new forward this summer, it was rumoured that an older, more experienced player was the idea – someone who could support and complement the development of Rasmus Hojlund, who cost £72m just last year.
It was for that reason that players like veteran frontman Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting were mentioned in passing.
Zirkzee clearly isn’t that. He’s less than two years older than Hojlund, 21, and has a very similar physical stature to the tall Dane. But his game is different.
Where Hojlund is a penalty area bulldozer more in the mould of Erling Haaland, Zirkzee has drawn more comparisons to the likes of Harry Kane and Ronaldinho.
He has the pace to run into channels, typically on the inside left, and will drop deep looking for the ball in order to help create rather than necessarily convert chances himself.
That is one explanation why, for a developing player with such a growing reputation as his, he only managed 11 league goals last season.
But what Zirkzee would give Ten Hag is more attacking options, which is one major thing United didn’t have enough of in 2023/24.
The ability to start from the left flank and drift in-field – providing competition for Marcus Rashford, starting up top alongside Hojlund if the boss wants a two-striker system, or slotting in at ‘number 10’ if Bruno Fernandes needs rest or is required as a deeper ‘eight’, would be a boost to the squad.
At £34m, Zirkzee wouldn’t start ahead of another striker who cost more than twice as much. But as a versatile squad player who can put pressure on starters and fill gaps wherever needed, it seems to represent decent value for money in today’s market, with untapped potential on top.
Sadly for United fans, Euro 2024 hasn’t offered an opportunity to watch him in action. Uncapped at senior level, Zirkzee was only a late call-up for the Netherlands as an injury replacement and has remained an unused substitute through his country’s early games at the tournament.
But those lack of opportunities shouldn’t detract from the excitement about the size of the talent he is.
What we know
- Dutch international Zirkzee on Man Utd’s summer transfer radar
- Bologna forward has affordable £34m release clause
- Comparisons have been made with both Harry Kane and Ronaldinho.