Report: Former Bayern striker emerges as United target

Reports in England suggest that Bologna striker Joshua Zirkzee could be the subject of interest for Manchester United in January.

The Serie A striker has been in good form this season, scoring 7 goals in 17 league games after a slow start last season. Yet being able to hit the ground running this term has seemingly attracted interested from the Old Trafford side.

Erik Ten Hag’s side are desperately in need of goals, as they are amongst some of the lowest scoring teams in the Premier League in 2023/24. Rasmus Højlund has yet to score in the league and Anthony Martial looks like he will be leaving in the summer.

Zirkzee would give United some much needed layers in the form of goal scoring personnel in a season that Scott McTominay is the club’s top scorer in December.

Whether a deal can logistically be done remains slim however, due to Bayern reportedly holding first refusal and a heavy sell on clause. This could mean that Bologna could be reluctant to sell the Dutch striker for a modest fee in order to gain a reasonable profit.

Red Devil Armada’s verdict:

The search for goals and strikers is a melancholic callback to the situation last winter, when about Weghirst was brought in on loan and United searched for goals. This year, despite spending a lump sum on a exciting and vibrant striker, the situation is just as bleak… or even bleaker, given the standards have dropped miserably low across the pitch.

The idea of signing Zirkzee is tasty, however the realistic chances of this happening seem low given Bayern’s involvement and United reluctant to spend much, if not anything, in January to bring in reinforcements. The Bologna man would probably cost at least £30-40million in addition to ‘United tax’, so any new striker coming in seems like a plan for Jim Ratcliffe’s team to mull over between now and the summer.