Manchester United appear to be making major moves in strengthening their squad for the upcoming campaign after deciding to keep Erik ten Hag as their manager and tying him down to a new contract. They seem to have reached a major breakthrough in the signing of Bologna forward Joshua Zirkzee.
Manchester United Agree to Sign Joshua Zirkzee From Bologna
How Much Will United Pay for Zirkzee?
Fabrizio Romano has given his “here we go” for the deal and confirmed that the Red Devils have agreed a deal with the Italian side to sign the Netherlands international forward. The journalist states that Zirkzee will be the first signing of the “Ineos new era”.
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Romano states that United are not going to trigger his £33.6 million release clause, but are going to actually be paying a slightly higher amount. It is added that the payment terms are going to be better for this figure, meaning that they’ll be paying that amount across multiple payments over the next three years.
The journalist also states that Zirkzee has decided to sign for the Red Devils by agreeing on a five-year contract until 2029, which also has the option to extend it until 2030. He is expected to be the first signing of the 2024 summer window for ten Hag’s side.
What Can Zirkzee Bring to Old Trafford?
Zirkzee, a physical forward at six foot four inches tall, was one of Bologna’s best players last season and played a key role in helping them secure a top-four finish. The 23-year-old also has experience of playing for a major European giant, having played for Bayern Munich for a few years and winning both the Bundesliga and UEFA Champions League titles as part of their squad.
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The Dutchman was hailed for enjoying an “amazing” 2023/24 season with the Italian side, where he proved his quality as a goal-scorer and also as a creative forward. He scored 12 goals and provided seven assists for them across all competitions and should bring some added goal-scoring potential to the Red Devils’ attack. Zirkzee is also likely to compete with Rasmus Hojlund for that centre-forward role and allow ten Hag more competition in his frontline.
