Manchester United are reportedly closing in on a deal for Bologna striker Joshua Zirkzee, with Bayern Munich set to benefit from a sell-on clause in the region of £17 million. The 23-year-old Netherlands international has a £34 million release clause in his contract, which United must pay in full if they wish to trigger it.
German reports indicate that Bayern Munich inserted a 50 per cent sell-on clause when Zirkzee left the club for Bologna in 2022. This means that if United finalise a £34 million transfer, the Bundesliga giants will receive half of the fee. Zirkzee spent five years in Bayern's youth system and made 17 first-team appearances before loan spells at Anderlecht and Parma.
The striker has impressed during his two seasons with Bologna, scoring 12 goals in 37 appearances last term. Currently at Euro 2024 with the Netherlands, Zirkzee was non-committal when asked about his future after coming off the bench in the quarter-final win over Turkey. 'I don't know, let's see,' he replied.
United view Zirkzee as the ideal complement to Rasmus Hojlund, who scored 16 goals last season as the club finished eighth in the Premier League – their worst league position in 34 years. The Red Devils managed only 57 league goals and hope Zirkzee's ability to link play and drift wide will ease the burden on Hojlund.
