Joshua Zirkzee celebrates Holland's win over Turkey. (Image: Getty)
Manchester United transfer target Joshua Zirkzee might have to overcome the ‘impossible’ if he his to set Old Trafford alight next season. The Bologna striker, currently with the Netherlands squad at Euro 2024, is expected to sign once the tournament finishes in Germany, with the two clubs reportedly close on deal.
Zirkzee only has a year left on his current contract with the Serie A club, but United are said to be willing to trigger his £34million clause.
But whether he’s able to flourish in England may rest on the style of the play that Erik ten Hag can implement at United this season. After months of speculation, the manager has finalised his future at the club, signing a one year extension to his contract that runs until 2026.
However, winning the FA Cup final against derby rivals Manchester City undoubtedly salvaged an otherwise disjointed campaign, finishing eighth in the table following a club record 14 Premier League defeats. And during their struggles, Ten Hag was frequently accused of lacking direction with his tactical approach.
Indeed, £72m striker Rasmus Hojlund endured a frustrating campaign, starved of service despite managing 16 goals in all competitions. And analysing the Danish forward, Gary Neville outlined the difficulty of Hojlund’s task.
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Gary Neville has argued being a Manchester United striker is an 'impossible' job. (Image: Getty)
“Hojlund doesn't know what the pattern of play is, whether the wide player is going to go to the line or come inside,” said Neville on Sky Sports. “You can see he's making good runs all the time and then the wide man will come back inside and there will be a 15-pass sequence.
"Another time he'll drop in and try to join in with that and that will inevitably be the time the wide man decides to get to the line and cross it. Until United can establish a consistent pattern of play, being centre forward in that team will be an impossible job."
That job is now set to be shared with Zirkzee, who spent time on loan at Parma and Anderlecht before signing for Bologna. Whether he’ll also be competing for a place with Marcus Rashford remains to be seen, with the former England striker continuing to be linked with a move away.
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He struck just eight times in 2023/24, after often cut a downbeat figure as his side toiled in attack. The loss of form led to him being omitted from England’s squad to the Euros, having featured in the previous three major international tournaments for his country.
United managed 57 goals in their 38 top-flight games last season, the lowest total out of any team in the top-10. That was 39 less than the eventual champions Man City, and 33 worse off than Arsenal.
