Manchester United and Arsenal are prepared to rival AC Milan in the race to sign Joshua Zirkzee from Bologna.
Zirkzee is a player who has been tracked all season after impressing in Bologna’s stunning season under Thiago Motta, as the Italian side finished fifth in Serie A to secure a place in the Champions League for next season.
Bologna’s overachieving side have attracted interest from top clubs across Europe, with head coach Motta agreeing a deal with Juventus and defender Riccardo Calafiori expected to follow. Zirkzee is another player who Bologna could struggle to hold onto due to a €40m (£34m) release clause in his contract and AC Milan have expressed interest in a deal.
However, Milan could face competition from Manchester United and Arsenal, according to the Metro, who are considering activating that fee. Each are in search of a centre-forward this summer and Zirkzee’s performances in Italy have caught the eye.
The 22-year-old scored 11 league goals and led all centre-forwards in Serie A for successful take-ons. Zirkzee, who began his career in the academy at Bayern Munich, was named Serie A Best Young Player for 2023-24 but missed out on a place in the Netherlands squad for Euro 2024.
He has scored seven times in 19 appearances for the u-21 side but is yet to be capped at senior level.
