Only a few days ago, despite playing a massive role in his team’s unexpected qualification for the Champions League, one leading pundit cast doubt on whether the Manchester United target really had what it takes to make the reach the very highest summit of European football.
And, in truth, you can see where the World Cup winner is coming from.
After scoring only 12 goals in 37 games this season, is Joshua Zirkzee really ready to join a club of Manchester United‘s expectations and stature?
“As a first-choice striker, you have to score more goals,” Luca Toni, the former Bayern Munich, Juventus and Italy poacher said of Zirkzee, via Tuttomercatoweb.
“In the big teams, in my opinion, you have to score at least 15 to 20. He is good at linking the play but, in the big teams, you need goals.”
Manchester United in Joshua Zirkzee race
Toni has a point, of course. But there is more to Zirkzee’s game than goals, even if the elegant Dutchman would certainly benefit from developing a more ruthless streak in the final third.
Centre-forwards these days are usually expected to offer more than a presence in the penalty area. And Zirkzee – not quite a number nine or a number ten but something in between – is maybe the prototype of the modern-day centre-forward.
He’s been likened to Man United icon Dimitar Berbatov. But perhaps a more up-to-date comparison would be Kai Havertz.
For all his critics, you will not find an Arsenal supporter casting doubt on Havertz’s effectiveness when leading the line for Mikel Arteta’s Premier League runners-up. He may not score the goals of Erling Haaland but it is no coincidence that, with Havertz dropping deep, linking the play and opening up spaces, Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard and Martin Odegaard have played the best football of their careers.
Zirkzee, similar in skillset and positioning to Havertz and with a £34 million release clause in his contract, could potentially play that role at Manchester United, helping to coax more out of Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho and co.
In addition to his 12 goals, Zirkzee has seven assists for a Bologna side who finished ahead of Juventus in third under the talismanic but-now-departed head coach Thiago Motta.
Serie A striker urged to make Arsenal move
Zirkzee would give Man United a more cerebral alternative to Rasmus Hojlund up top. But Frank de Boer, the former Ajax and Inter Milan coach who has watched the 23-year-old’s development closely, feels that a readymade system at Arsenal would suit Zirkzee best.
“I have great respect for Arsenal,” De Boer tells Calciomercato, highlighting The Gunners penchant for signing talented young players and upgrading them from ‘good’ into ‘great’.
“They have patience. For example, they had it with Arteta, who didn’t start well. In some clubs like this, you are already out. And (Arsenal) have played very well in the last two years.
“If I have to say someone (Zirkzee should join) I prefer Arsenal, because they have the patience to wait for him and give him confidence.”
As ‘patience’ goes, Manchester United’s may be running out with Erik ten Hag.
Saturday’s FA Cup final rematch with Man City may be the manager’s final game in charge of the Red Devils.