Arsenal & Man Utd target would be perfect for Liverpool, says ex-coach

Tom Weber

Updated: 25 Mar 2024 21:54 GMT
4 min read

Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool, 2023/24 — © IMAGO

One of Joshua Zirkzee's former coaches is convinced that a move to Liverpool would be ideal for the Dutchman.

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The Bologna striker has become one of Europe's hottest commodities this season, having notched 11 goals and six assists so far in all competitions, with his side enjoying a historic campaign.

Bologna currently sit fourth in Serie A and Zirkzee's form has been a big reason for their success. Unsurprisingly, then, the former Bayern wonderkid has appeared on the radar of Europe's elite. In the Premier League, the likes of Arsenal and Man Utd have been heavily linked with the 22-year-old.

Italian clubs are also keenly watching his exploits in domestic competition. Juventus and Milan have been associated with the towering Dutchman, with the latter particularly keen to add a new striker in the summer as Olivier Giroud appears to be on his way to LAFC in MLS.

Though Bologna's chief executive recently insisted that they would prefer to keep their stars, it will be a struggle to prevent Zirkzee from leaving in the summer, though their reported €75 million asking price could certainly help them achieve this.

Zirkzee ideal for Liverpool

In light of the hype surrounding Zirkzee, Sportitalia interviewed one of his former coaches, Ferry Verbeek, to get the lowdown on the in-demand Dutchman.

Asked whether he is surprised by his former protégé's recent success, Verbeek said: “No, I'm really not surprised at all. You can see that he is in the right club where he can mature, you can see that he is having a lot of fun, that he is motivated and has grown a little in his mentality and relationships compared to 3-4 years ago."

The question was then put to him by the Italian outlet whether a move to Juventus or Milan would suit him better, to which Verbeek had a somewhat surprising answer. “I think he would definitely have a bright future at Milan," he began.

"At Liverpool or Barcelona, however, he would be better off in his element, with a lot of pressure up front and a lot of possession of the ball." Liverpool are one of the few elite clubs that haven't been prominently linked with Zirkzee, so this is quite an intriguing statement. Perhaps they should start looking at the Bologna striker.