Should Manchester United succeed in getting one of their top targets over the line during the summer transfer window, they may look back on an injury to an Atalanta star as the turning point.
Until mid-July, when Teun Koopmeiners was ruled out of Netherlands’ European Championship squad, the forward at the top of the Red Devils’ wishlist looked destined to end up at the San Siro instead.
But suddenly Joshua Zirkzee was on his way to Germany to link up with Ronald Koeman’s Oranje side. And, with discussions over his Bologna future subsequently pushed back another couple of weeks, that opened the door for Manchester United to shoehorn AC Milan out of the way and move into pole position.
Zirkzee is now expected to make a decision after the Netherlands’ Euro 2024 campaign comes to an end. That could be as early as this Sunday, a clash with England on the cards after they lost their final group-stage clash to Ralf Rangnick’s Austria in midweek.
And, withZirkzee’s £34 million release clause coming into effect from July 1st, there is some light at the end of the tunnel.
This saga potentially has just days left to run.
Manchester United battling AC Milan for Joshua Zirkzee
The iNews reported this week that Man United were pushing hard for Zirkzee.
Milan have been stung by negotiations with the 23-year-old’s representative, Kia Joorabchian reportedly demanding a considerable ‘agent fee’ that the Rossoneri have little interest in paying.
Reporter Ben Jacobs insists that there has been no waving of the white flag yet from the Milan camp. But Manchester United have certainly stolen a march, the former Bayern Munich youngster now a leading candidate to become the first new signing of the Ineos era at Old Trafford.
“Manchester United are in advanced talks on the Zirkzee side,” Jacobs explains to mufcMPB. “It’s not just about persuading the player, it’s also about getting down the side costs. Particularly the agent fees.
“Whereas Milan were ahead of Manchester United in terms of informing Bologna that they were prepared to pay the release clause and also feeling like they had player buy-in, the overall cost of that deal has been tough for Milan to get over the line.
“They’ve not given up. They’re still very much in the race. But it’s given Manchester United an opportunity to hijack the deal.”
And hijack it they have.
Jacobs feels that, if it wasn’t for Koopmeiners’ injury pre-tournament, Zirkzee might have put pen to paper with Milan already.
“Zirkzee’s late inclusion due to injury in the Netherlands Squad at Euro 2024 has probably benefited Manchester United,” Jacobs adds. “Because it’s given them that extra bit of time.
“I think, had he not been selected, then Milan would have either got that over the line or ultimately walked away.”
Milan now looking at Lukaku
Man United’s pursuit could also be aided by a pair of former Red Devils. Milan, according to Sky Italia, are now planning to hold talks with Chelsea about a deal that would see Romelu Lukaku end up at the San Siro, potentially in Zirkzee’s place.
There is also interest in the free-agent Memphis Depay, per Gianluca di Marzio.
More a ‘facilitator’ than a classic finisher like Rasmus Hojlund, Zirkzee might not be a prolific goalscorer but his intelligence and link-play could be the key to unlocking far more out of Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho and Bruno Fernandes.
Expect to see Zirkzee drop into the number ten role, with the aforementioned trio streaking in behind onto his well-weighted through balls.
“When he came to us, it was a special moment,” one-time Parma team-mate Simone Iacoponi tells Milan News. “It was his first experience in the Italian league and initially he had some more difficulties. But it was evident that he had important qualities.
“Technically and physically, he was a player of the highest level. At Bologna, he found his dimension, more than anything thanks to the trust of the team and the coach. The qualities that were seen in Parma came to the fore.
“Honestly no, I didn’t think he would become a (player wanted by clubs) of this level. Or, at least, not at this speed. But the numbers are on his side. He has made important plays and physically he is a well-trained player who can still improve in his game choices.
“He can already be important for a great team.”
Iacoponi, meanwhile, is not the first to draw comparisons between Zirkzee and the iconic Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
“What strikes me about him? His personality. He is a player who is convinced of what he can do,” adds Iacoponi. “And it’s a winning weapon.
“The comparison with Ibrahimovic? The comparison can be made due to their size and their movements, but Joshua is much more technical than Ibra who was stronger.”
