Bologna set Manchester United target Joshua Zirkzee a deadline of today to decide his future | OneFootball

One of the most discussed potential transfer dealings of the summer to date is the future of Dutch striker Joshua Zirkzee.

Manchester United are clearly looking for a forward to lighten the burden of Dane Rasmus Hojlund and the Bologna striker has been identified as the man to bolster United’s attack.

It has been reported that they are content to meet Zirkzee’s release clause and are the club most prepared to pay his agent Kia Joorabchian’s rather large commission fees.

Italian reports this morning have highlighted three interesting updates on the future of the 23 year old striker.

While it has been relayed here that the striker would prefer to stay in Italy, the potential acquiring of a former Red Devil to the coaching staff, Ruud van Nistelrooy could help tilt the scales in United’s favour.

Corriere di Bologna report that “yesterday new positive contacts were registered between Manchester United and Joshua Zirkzee’s agent Kia Joorabchian, with them ever closer to agreement on commissions.”

The only thing that stands in the way of a deal is the Dutchman’s aforementioned preference to stay in Serie A but “United has a non-trivial card to play: a centre-forward symbol of Dutch football such as Ruud van Nistelrooy will join Erik Ten Hag’s staff” and this could certainly help convince the attacker to move to Old Trafford.”

Another factor in United’s favour is that as reported recently, AC Milan, who are United’s biggest rivals for the player, are seriously considering other options such as Romelu Lukaku.

La Gazzetta dello Sport state that the seven time European champions are also keen to bring in Tammy Abraham in addition to Lukaku, who has also been linked to United in the past, having calculated they could get two for the price of one Zirkzee.

The Italian outlet reports that it is “realistic to hypothesize that for a sum between €20 and 25 million Abraham could change shirt. And so, if Milan decided to organize the double move from Rome to Milan for Tammy and Romelu, the overall expense would not be far from the €55 million needed to secure Zirkzee.”

Finally, Corriere dello Sport provide a final update of the morning in the increasingly complex transfer story and claim that Bologna are giving the striker a deadline to decide his next move as they aim to plan their own summer window.

“By the end of this week Giovanni Sartori and Marco Di Vaio want to know from Joshua Zirkzee what his definitive choice” will be in regard to his future, the outlet says.

Whilst Bologna appreciate that Zirkzee has said such kind words about their team and know he would like to stay, it is no longer enough as they fear missing out on potential replacements due to the ongoing uncertainty over his future.

“It is clear that a maximum limit must be set within which a decision must be made at all costs and this limit has finally been fixed (precisely). Also because Bologna has already ‘given’ from May to today.”

What is clear is that there finally seems to be some movement on the deal and as July approaches and his release clause becomes active, something will have to give in this turning and twisting transfer story.

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