The CRAZY agent fee Arsenal will have to pay for ‘Dutch Zlatan’

Carlo Garganese

• 16 Jun 2024 12:00 BST
• 3 min read

Arsenal have been told they will have to pay Joshua Zirkzee’s agent a monstrous commission in order to hijack the Bologna striker from AC Milan.

Zirkzee was reported by unanimous sources earlier this week to be on the verge of completing a €40 million move from Bologna to Milan.

Milan have agreed personal terms with Zirkzee and have agreed to pay the €40 million release clause in his contract.

READ MORE: Who is Joshua Zirkzee?

However, the transfer has been held up by the commission being demanded by Zirkzee’s agent Kia Joorabchian.

Joorabchian is demanding a barely believable €15m in order to complete Zirkzee’s transfer to Milan.

Out of principle, Milan are refusing to pay such a high amount and have been trying to get that price down.

So far they have been unsuccessful, which has given Arsenal the time to re-enter the race for the striker known as the ‘Dutch Zlatan’.

Sky Sports Uk says that Arsenal are still trying to convince Zirkzee to join Arsenal instead, having missed out on primary striker target Benjamin Sesko.

They add that Arsenal are now no longer interested in any strikers in the Premier League, such as Newcastle’s Alexander Isak and Brentford’s Ivan Toney.

But Arsenal know that if they want Zirkzee they will also have to pay Joorabchian a massive commission.

READ MORE: Premier League summer transfers 2024: All the Done Deals

Zirkzee in 2023-24

Zirkzee led Bologna to a shock qualification into next season’s Champions League.

Likened to Sweden legend Zlatan Ibrahimovic, he delivered 12 goals and seven assists in all competitions as Bologna finished fifth in Serie A.

He was the key man for a Bologna team who performed well above their weight under Thiago Motta to qualify for the Champions League.

Standing at 6ft 4in, Zirkzee is a giant of a striker who is expert at holding up the ball and bringing others into play.

He is strong at protecting the ball with his back to play, but he is also excellent technically, boasting quick feet and able to move out of tight spaces.

Zirkzee was called up to Netherlands’ Euro 2024 squad after injuries to Frenkie de Jong and Tuen Koopmeiners last week.