- 6 hours ago
Zirkzee to Man Utd is go! Bologna striker makes transfer desire clear with MASSIVE discount
Robin Bairner
- 21 Jun 2024 06:40 BST
- 3 min read
Manchester United’s prospects of landing Joshua Zirkzee from Bologna look increasingly good, with the Netherlands forward effectively giving the Red Devils the green light to make a deal.
For much of the last week, Zirkzee has been moving increasingly close to Man Utd, but this accelerated on Thursday, when it was revealed that AC Milan, who he had previously agreed personal terms with, had lost control of the transfer.
Instead, the Old Trafford side are now firmly in focus, and even if the deal is not particularly advanced at this point, everything from the player’s side is pointing to a deal being done.
EXCLUSIVE: Man Utd, Arsenal and Chelsea weigh up transfer for £40m Bournemouth star
Current ETV
Joshua Zirkzee
F (CRL)
Bologna
Joshua Zirkzee
F (CRL)
Bologna
ETV Range
€16M - €26.6M
Agent trouble
Milan’s sticking point in the Zirkzee deal was not over terms with the player or even meeting Bologna’s €40 million release clause, but instead with agent Kia Joorabchian.
The Rossoneri were unwilling to pay his commission of €15 million – a price that adds nearly 50% onto the initial outlay of the transfer fee.
Man Utd, meanwhile, will not be asked to pay that figure, according to Nick Semeraro, who claims that the Red Devils are being offered a discount in this regard by the super agent.
READ MORE: What is the 'Man Utd tax'? BONKERS Branthwaite price and more overpriced transfer fees
Semeraro claims that Joorabchian’s relationship with Milan is “terrible” and that instead of asking for €15m from Man Utd, he only wants €10m – a sizeable cut.
It is also claimed that Zirkzee, who was a late call up to the Netherlands international team for Euro 2024 and could be involved against France late on Friday, is “flattered” by the interest of the Old Trafford side.
From here, the ball is very at Man Utd’s feet. It is a deal that the player clearly wants while Bologna are powerless to stop him leaving if his €40m release clause is triggered.
Zirkzee, who joined Bologna for €8.5m in the summer of 2022, has an Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) of €21.3m and has been previously touted as ‘the Dutch Zlatan’ after former Man Utd star Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
