Joshua Zirkzee To Man United Is Done! Set To Fly To England To Undergo Medicals.

• Manchester United target Joshua Zirkzee is set to fly to England ahead of his medical on Friday, and finally put pen to paper on a move to Old Trafford.

• Zirkzee will become the first signing of the INEOS era.

Following Anthony Martial’s departure at the end of last season when his contract expired, Man United are looking to strengthen in that department and Zirkzee emerged as the leading candidate early on to replace the Frenchman.

According to reports, the Bologna hotshot will undergo medicals with Man United after the Premier League club agreed to a €42.5 million (£33.7m/$46m) deal for his signature on a five-year contract until June 2029 plus an option for further year.

The €42.5m fee is to be paid over three years instead of €40m in one solution. 

Zirkzee medical has been scheduled for Friday and he will also meet with Red Devils boss, Erik ten Hag.

The 23-year-old Dutch striker, joined Bayern Munich’s youth system from Feyenoord in 2017 and made 17 first-team appearances for the German club, scoring four goals.

He only spent five seasons at the Bundesliga giants, including two in which he was out on loan, first at Parma and then Anderlecht, scoring 18 goals at the Belgian club in the 2021-22 season, earning him a permanent transfer to Bologna for about £7.15m at the end of that campaign.

He finished the 2023-24 season as Bologna's top scorer, netting 12 goals and seven assists in 37 appearances in his debut season, as the Italian club claimed a surprise spot in next season’s Champions League for the first time since 1963-64 after a fifth-placed finish in Serie A.

Zirkzee's impressive performances helped him secure a place in Ronald Koeman's squad for Euro 2024. While he hardly played a part at the continental tournament. He made just two substitute appearances for the Netherlands, totalling four minutes, plus injury time.

He was introduced into Wednesday’s semi-final 2-1 defeat by England immediately after Ollie Watkins’ late winner.

Netherlands crashing out of Euro 2024 has sped up the transfer process for the imposing, yet elegant striker to join the 13-time Premier League champions.

Rasmus Hojlund, who was signed last summer for £72 million, is currently the only recognised central striker in Erik ten Hag’s squad. 

With Martial's extended absence because of injury, in addition to Marcus Rashford’s drop in form, left new signing Hojlund to shoulder the striking burden last season as the Dane managed to score 10 goals and two assists.

Though, it seems as if Hojlund ended up losing his place in Ten Hag’s starting line-up for the FA Cup final win over Man City in Wembley as the manager used Bruno Fernandes in a false nine role.

United view Zirkzee as having a complementary skillset to Hojlund and being capable of strengthening their range of possibilities up front next season.

This will reduce the heavy burden placed on Hojlund’s shoulders. Zirkzee who is a fluid dribbler, with the physicality to drop off, hold up the ball and bring others into play its in contrast to Hojlund’s more traditional qualities as a No. 9 but gives United’s attack added variety.

For a combined fee of €117.5m over the course of two summers, United have a pair of talented young centre-forwards that could lead their line for many years to come. And they may not be done yet.