Manchester United will be in the market for a striker this summer but will face a real battle to land one of the top Ineos targets.
After all the speculation and all the rumours, Erik ten Hag is staying at Manchester United.
The United boss will keep his job and move forward towards next season amid reports that Ineos are sticking with him.
The attention will now turn to the summer transfer window with United needing to get some business done.
Rasmus Hojlund showed enough promise in his debut season at Old Trafford to be excited about his future.
The Dane certainly needs some support in the United attack though with Anthony Martial missing for most of this past season.
Martial is now on his way out of United and finding another striker to support Hojlund is absolutely vital.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic on Manchester United target Joshua Zirkzee
RB Leipzig hitman Benjamin Sesko will not be joining United this summer having signed a new contract to stay in Germany.
That means United have to pivot to another target, with Bologna’s Joshua Zirkzee thought to be the next priority.
Reports suggest that Zirkzee is becoming a priority for United and it been made ‘clear’ that he is wanted at Old Trafford.
Zirkzee has a £34million release clause ins his contract but United face competition for his signature.
AC Milan would like to keep Zirkzee in Italy, viewing him as their next big striker with Olivier Giroud heading to the United States.
Former Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic serves as a senior advisor at the San Siro – and he has been speaking about Zirkzee.
Sky Italia’s Gianluca Di Marzio quotes Ibrahimovic as saying that Milan must bring in a new striker this summer – and feels that Zirkzee is a ‘strong player with potential’.
Ibrahimovic tried to play down some of the rumours surrounding a transfer and refuted comparison between Zirkzee and himself, but does like what he sees from the Dutchman.
“Last year we made a great transfer market and there is a team basis. This transfer market will be made up of details to improve the team. We need a 9,” said Ibrahimovic. “Olivier made a great move work. Zirkzee is a strong player with potential. The rumours that go around don’t often correspond to reality. I don’t like comparisons, but he plays very well,” he added.
Zirkzee now on international duty
Despite scoring 11 goals in 34 Serie A games, Zirkzee was actually left out of Ronald Koeman’s Netherlands squad.
Koeman has a number of strikers at his disposal with Donyell Malen and Cody Gakpo in the squad alongside former Manchester United forwards Memphis and Wout Weghorst.
Zirkzee was set for a summer of watching the European Championships on the television – but that has now changed.
The Netherlands have been dealt a couple of major injury blows with midfielders Frenkie de Jong and Teun Koopmeiners now ruled out of Euro 2024.
Koeman has now called up striker Zirkzee alongside Chelsea left back Ian Maatsen, bolstering his squad in other areas.
United may have been looking for Zirkzee to be ready and available for any potential move to United but he is now away with the Netherlands for the coming weeks.
That could complicate a move but United will surely look to keep tabs on his progress in Germany as a fight with Ibrahimovic and Milan looms.