Joshua Zirkzee is set to undergo his Manchester United medical on Friday! ⚽️ The €42.5m deal brings the electrifying Dutch forward closer to the Theatre of Dreams. With his remarkable pace and goal-scoring prowess, Zirkzee promises to be a thrilling addition to the Red Devils’ attack. Get ready, United fans, because the future looks bright! 🌟🔴
Joshua Zirkzee is set to have a medical at Manchester United on Friday in preparation for his transfer from Bologna.
After the Netherlands’ 2-1 defeat to England at the European Championship on Wednesday, Zirkzee is scheduled to fly to the UK on Thursday evening for the medical examination.
Instead of activating the €40 million (£34 million) release clause in Zirkzee’s contract, United will pay €42.5 million in staggered payments to Bologna over three years. Paying the release clause in full would have been necessary otherwise.
Zirkzee will agree to a five-year contract with United, as The Athletic reported on Tuesday, with an additional 12-month extension option included.
Following Anthony Martial’s departure when his contract ended, United made signing a forward a priority this summer, as Rasmus Hojlund was the only central striker left in Erik ten Hag’s squad. United sees Zirkzee as a player who can complement Hojlund and enhance their attacking options.
Zirkzee joined Bayern Munich’s youth academy from Feyenoord in 2017, making 17 senior appearances and scoring four goals for the German team.
He had loan stints at Parma and Anderlecht, scoring 18 goals at the Belgian club during the 2021-22 season, which led to a permanent move to Bologna.
The Dutch forward ended the 2023-24 season as Bologna’s top scorer with 11 goals and five assists, playing a crucial role in securing the club’s spot in the Champions League group stage for the first time since the 1963-64 season.
### Key Addition for Ten Hag
**Analysis by Mark Critchley**
When Jadon Sancho was used as a false nine in a pre-season friendly against Arsenal last summer, Ten Hag was asked when he wanted to sign a new striker. His response was, “Last year!”
Although Hojlund joined the team soon after, Ten Hag still lacked forward options due to Martial’s absence, placing a heavy load on Hojlund.
That burden should now be eased with the addition of a different type of striker. Zirkzee’s ability to drop deep and link play contrasts with Hojlund’s more conventional No. 9 attributes, adding variety to United’s attack.
A skilled dribbler with the strength to hold up the ball and involve teammates, Zirkzee will be the first signing of the INEOS era. It will be interesting to see how much playing time he will take from Hojlund, who played 2,158 minutes in the Premier League last season.
With a combined fee of €117.5 million spent over two summers, United now has two promising young centre-forwards who could lead their line for many years. And this might not be the end of their striker acquisitions.
Although primarily a striker for Bologna, Zirkzee can also play as a wide forward, leaving the possibility open for United to explore the centre-forward market again before the summer concludes. Would that be enough strikers for you, Erik?
