Manchester United’s pursuit of Joshua Zirkzee continues to be played out very much in the public eye.
Every detail, every stage of a potential £34 million saga poured over and laid out in detail by the media. From Kia Joorabchian’s eye-watering agent fee to AC Milan’s stance, to Manchester United’s ‘advanced’ discussions with the Zirkzee camp.
By contrast, Red Devils’ pursuit of Zirkzee’s team-mate has come straight out of the blue.
According to Gianluca di Marzio, the reporter who broke the news of Lazio’s £20 million bid for Mason Greenwood, Man United lodged an enquiry for Bologna forward Dan Ndoye this week.
Ndoye opened his Switzerland account with a well-taken finish in the 1-1 group stage draw with Germany at Euro 2024, only denied a second by the offside flag. It was a display which highlighted everything good about Ndoye. Pace, purpose, precision.
Potential, too.
Like Zirkzee, Ndoye is only 23 years of age. He very much fits the age profile of signings United are looking for in the Ineos era. Sir Jim Ratcliffe has spoken on numerous occasions about his desire to make Old Trafford home to the next generation of superstars rather than continue the Glazer-era trend of prioritising shirt-shifting big names over potential.
And Ndoye, intriguingly, has already represented two Ineos-controlled clubs. He rose through the ranks at Lausanne Sport before moving to France with OGC Nice in 2020.
Manchester United eye Bologna ace Dan Ndoye
It has not taken Ndoye’s camp long to respond to those Manchester United rumours. Lodovico Spinosi insists that the versatile attacker is ready to make the step up to a ‘superior’ team after helping Bologna quality for the Champions League for the very first time under Thiago Motta.
“I can tell you about Ndoye that he is having a great European Championship,” begins Spinosi, speaking to TV Play.
“(While he has) skills to improve, he truly has everything to go to a top club. What I noticed together with my partners, (is that) he raised his level in important matches.
“He is ready to go to a superior team to Bologna. He would have no problems making an impact. And he showed that against Germany, beyond the goal.”
Spinosi admits that there is not only Serie A interest in his client, even if a potential departure is still very much in the early stages.
Ineos know the Switzerland international well
“I can tell you that he is paid attention to not only by Italian teams, but also by foreign ones,” the agent adds. “The lucky thing is that he finds himself at a club like Bologna. Super healthy, who will play in the Champions League.
“To date, there is nothing concrete other than expressions of interest. It is true that he is doing very well and everyone is realising how decisive he is in one-on-one situations, thanks to his speed. He can also play as a wing-back, despite being born as an offensive player.
“He is a complete player who, if he manages to be more decisive up front, will be at a top-tier club.”
Ndoye, who played for Basel before moving to Bologna, clearly needs to work on his end product. That Germany strike was his first goal in 14 Switzerland caps. Ndoye also scored only once during 32 Serie A appearances in 2023/24.
But, like with Zirkzee and another Serie A whizzkid on United’s radar in Hellas Verona’s Tijjani Noslin, the Red Devils would not be signing Ndoye for the player he is now but for the player he could yet become.
Di Marzio, meanwhile, believes Bologna demand Ndoye at around £21 million.