Chelsea ready to rival Arsenal and Man Utd for €50m striker

Tom Weber

• Updated: 19 Feb 2024 21:20 GMT
• 3 min read

Chelsea have joined the race to sign Joshua Zirkzee, according to Italian media.

The Dutch striker continues to tear up Serie A, scoring again at the weekend to help Bologna shore up fifth place thanks to a 2-1 win over Lazio. Thiago Motta's surprise packages are enjoying a brilliant season and Zirkzee's form has been a big reason for their success.

The towering centre-forward has notched nine goals and four assists in 24 league outings so far this term and shows no signs of slowing down. This, unsurprisingly, is making the 22-year-old an intriguing option on the transfer market for Europe's elite.

Indeed, Arsenal and Man Utd have both been heavily linked with the Dutchman. The former were recently said to be his keenest Premier League admirers, while the latter's interest still exists but has gone somewhat cold in recent days, with Man Utd instead shifting their focus onto Bayern wonderkid Mathys Tel.

Now, another Premier League heavyweight has rented the frame, according to a report.

Chelsea also in the mix

It is asserted that Chelsea have now also begun taking a keen interest in Zirkzee's exploits. That's at least according to Corriere Dello Sport, which has added the Blues to the long list of admirers reportedly eyeing the Dutchman.

In addition to the above-mentioned English heavyweights, Italy's big hitters such as Juventus, Milan and Roma are also said to be interested in the 22-year-old. Milan have been keeping an eye on Zirkzee for some time as they are in the market for a long-term successor to Olivier Giroud.

Finally, Barcelona have also been namechecked by the Italian outlet. However, it is unlikely that all of these clubs will be in the race to sign him come the summer, as he will reportedly command a fee in the region of €45 million to €50m.