As The Pitch Prospect has learned, Manchester United are close to signing Bologna striker Joshua Zirkzee.
The 23-year-old is currently taking part in the 2024 European Championship with the Netherlands, but a deal to sign him is still being finalised.
3
Zirkzee played a key role in Bologna’s impressive second-place finish in Serie A last season.
He scored eleven league goals and provided four assists, completing the potential he demonstrated at Bayern Munich.
A knee injury during a loan spell at Parma threatened to ruin his promising career, but stints at Anderlecht and now his return to Italy have given him a new direction.
And the 1.93m tall player is now a full international after making his debut for the Netherlands in their 2-1 quarter-final win over Turkey.
more about Joshua Zirkzee
He is only the third Dutch star, after Martien Vreijsen and Cody Gakpo, to play his first international match at a European Championship.
This result means that they will now face England in the semi-finals of Euro 2024.
The Pitch Prospect told you at the end of June that Manchester United were ready to activate Zirkee’s £34 million release clause.
His club is now convinced that he will leave this summer.
3
Bologna director Giovanni Sartori admitted: “Joshua Zirkzee has an exit clause in his contract and I believe there is a 99 percent chance he will leave the club.”
Zirkzee may not be the only Dutchman arriving at Old Trafford this summer.
The Red Devils are also making positive progress in their search for central defender Matthijs de Light from FC Bayern Munich.
Both players are keen to move to Old Trafford.
3
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag knows De Ligt only too well, having coached him for two seasons at Ajax.
One of these successes occurred in the 2018/19 season, when the Dutch giants shocked European giants Real Madrid in the Champions League, reaching the semi-finals of the competition.
Since then, de Ligt has played for Juventus Turin and now for Bayern Munich, but has not been able to quite match his initial success.
Along with Zirkzee, he is also in the Netherlands squad for the 2024 European Championship.
The Pitch Prospect brings you live commentary from EVERY Euro 2024 match. Tune in via the website or app and follow our Euro 2024 live blog for the latest news, views and reaction to the big moments.