Liverpool might be on the verge of hijacking Manchester United’s bid to sign Bologna striker Joshua Zirkzee this summer, reports Caught Offside.
Manchester United, prompted by their Dutch manager Erik ten Hag, have made the Bologna star a key target for the summer. They have made notable strides in their pursuit of Zirkzee, 23, who was a standout player in Serie A last season with 16 goal contributions in 34 league games, helping Bologna achieve a surprise Champions League qualification.
However, the Red Devils have not yet agreed on personal terms with the Dutch striker. Although the £34 million release clause is not an obstacle, Zirkzee is seeking a four to five-year contract and is impressed by the level of interest from Manchester United.
Should Joshua Zirkzee fail to agree terms with Manchester United, Liverpool may consider him as an option, according to CaughtOffside. New Liverpool manager Arne Slot reportedly appreciates his fellow Dutchman’s abilities.
AC Milan and Arsenal are also interested in signing the 23-year-old this summer, which means Liverpool could face competition if the move to Old Trafford falls through.
Zirkzee demonstrated his quality at Bologna last season and now aims to advance his career by joining a bigger club.
While negotiations with Manchester United seem to be progressing, Zirkzee is currently focused on the ongoing European Championships in Germany, even though he has yet to play a minute for Ronald Koeman’s Netherlands squad.
Arne Slot appears to be a fan of Zirkzee and is prepared to bring him to Liverpool this summer. However, Liverpool already have a strong attacking lineup.
Therefore, any potential move for the former Bayern Munich player would largely depend on the futures of Mohamed Salah, who has been linked with Saudi Arabia, and Luis Diaz, who is reportedly on Barcelona’s radar.
With that in mind, we can deal a significant blow to our arch-rivals by executing a move similar to the Cody Gakpo situation.
Gakpo revealed how close he was to joining Manchester United in January 2023 before ultimately signing with Liverpool.
Therefore, we should continue to monitor the situation closely and seize the opportunity to sign Zirkzee if it presents itself.
In other Liverpool news, I’d Like to Go’ – Liverpool Star Hands Arne Slot Fresh Pre-season Challenge