According to a report from Corriere dello Sport (page 12), Arsenal has notified Bologna that they are willing to pay more than €40 million in order to secure the signing of Joshua Zirkzee this summer.
Zirkzee, who is currently playing his second season with the Serie A team, has been impressive with eight goals and four assists in 22 appearances under the guidance of Thiago Motta.
The Dutchman is currently in his second season with the Serie A team. He has scored eight goals and provided four assists in 22 matches for Thiago Motta’s side.
His impressive performances have attracted the attention of the Gunners, and according to Corriere dello Sport, the club is prepared to make a move for him at the conclusion of the season.
Bayern Munich currently holds a buy-back clause valued at €40m for Zirkzee, and they will also receive a substantial sell-on clause if he decides to join another club.
Bologna’s advantageous position allows them to negotiate effectively, leading to speculation that they will demand a higher fee than the player’s release clause to facilitate his departure this summer.
According to reports, Arsenal is willing to “guarantee” the requested fee, although they may face competition from Manchester United, who are also prepared to meet the player’s demands.
There is a possibility that Zirkzee could replace Eddie Nketiah at Arsenal, as the club currently relies on Gabriel Jesus and Nketiah as their primary attacking options. However, it is evident that Jesus holds the undisputed position as the preferred choice under manager Mikel Arteta.
In our opinion, Nketiah’s playing time has been limited due to Jesus’ injuries. However, in a recent match against Liverpool, Trossard was chosen over him to lead the line.
This situation could potentially lead to Nketiah’s departure if the club decides to sign a new striker. While Zirkzee may not be a complete player yet, he has shown promising progress with Bologna this season.
Despite only contributing to 12 goals in 22 games, he possesses great potential. Zirkzee excels in his anchor and link-up play, displaying good pace and dribbling skills to bypass opponents. Additionally, his aerial presence is something that Arsenal currently lacks in their forward line.
Although fans may prefer someone like Ivan Toney or Victor Osimhen to compete with Jesus, it wouldn’t be surprising if the manager opts to recruit Zirkzee instead.
