Bologna striker Joshua Zirkzee has now offered a hint toward what will influence his decision to accept any transfer to Arsenal or Manchester United during the summer.
The 23-year-old has emerged as a top target for several sides set to target centre-forwards in the upcoming off-season. Zirkzee produced a strong season in Serie A to fire Bologna to a fifth-place finish. He hit 11 goals and five assists through 34 games as his club’s top scorer.
His form during the 2023/24 season also convinced Arsenal and Manchester United to scout Zirkzee. The Premier League rivals sent their talent spotters to the Emilia Romagna region to cast their rulings on the Dutchman, who will not be going to Euro 2024 for the Netherlands.
Arsenal, Aston Villa and Manchester United are interested in signing Joshua Zirkzee
Arsenal are also ready to go to rather great lengths to win the transfer tug-of-war for Zirkzee this summer. Tuttosport has reported that the Gunners have already offered the 6 ft 3 striker a five-year contract worth €6m-a-season (£98k-a/w) to pip AC Milan and Juventus’ moves.
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Reports by Calciomercato also note that Arsenal are prepared to make Zirkzee a starter next season to edge interest from Aston Villa and Manchester United. The north London side will make a switch to Emirates Stadium as enticing as they can knowing that he is happy in Italy.
Bologna are vulnerable to losing Zirkzee for €40m (£34m), though, per Corriere dello Sport. His agent, Kia Joorabchian, secured a release clause in his contract that is valid for all teams across the summer sales. The clause is not an exclusive buy-back option for Bayern Munich.
Yet Zirkzee does not rule out snubbing a transfer to Arsenal, Manchester United or Juventus to stay at Bologna. His ‘head’ is at I Rossoblu, so he will only decide his future after a holiday in the USA after Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman omitted him from their Euro 2024 squad.
“At the moment, my head is only in Bologna,” Zirkzee has told Corriere della Sera. “I want to recover from the injury and have some nice holidays in the States with my childhood friends and then we’ll see what happens.
“[If I had a choice], I would choose the best for the club. I will only do what makes sense in my heart.”
Joshua Zirkzee could snub a transfer to play in the Champions League with Bologna
One factor which might tempt Zirkzee to stay at Bologna over securing a transfer to Arsenal, Manchester United et al this summer is I Rossoblu’s qualification for the Champions League. They will feature in UEFA’s elite club competition for only the second time ever next season.
“It will be a great challenge, very exciting,” Zirkzee continued. “I dreamed of playing it since I was a child. I won it with Bayern Munich but now it will be exciting to play it because with the German club it’s as if I hadn’t done it. Now, I’ll be there on the pitch to live the moment.
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“It is clear that for me it would be wonderful to defend this goal achieved together. What we experienced in Piazza Maggiore was unforgettable.”
Bologna finished fifth in Serie A but qualified for the Champions League after the Italian top-flight secured one of the two extra entries based on its clubs’ performance during the three European competitions this term. The Bundesliga secured the other extra qualification spot.