Erik ten Hag has hinted at using Joshua Zirkzee in a different role to Rasmus Hojlund after making the Netherlands striker his first signing of the summer transfer window.
Zirkzee completed a £35.7m move from Bologna on Sunday and will now head off on holiday before linking up with his new teammates. The 23-year-old is likely to miss the entirety of the club’s US tour after his participation in Euro 2024 so could have to wait until the Community Shield on August 10 to make his debut.
Signing a forward was a priority for United in this window, with Hojlund carrying the burden of leading the line without any support last season. Anthony Martial struggled for fitness all season and left the club when his contract expired at the end of June.
Zirkzee arrives with a similar Serie A record to Hojlund before he moved from Atalanta to United in an initial £64m deal. The Dane scored 16 goals in 43 games in his first season at Old Trafford but blew hot and cold as the 21-year-old adapted to the step up.
At 6ft 4ins, Zirkzee has a similar physical profile, but Ten Hag believes he will allow United to change tactically, with the former Bayern Munich youngster tasked with dropping deep and combining with his fellow forwards.
In Hojlund, Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho, United have regularly fielded a front three who like to run in behind and Ten Hag believes Zirkzee will complement them with his style of play, rather than just offering competition to Hojlund.
“He is a player who can link up the game, who can be available, hold up the ball, have good ideas, be creative, can dribble combinations,” said Ten Hag of his new forward.
“So that’s a different type and always what we are looking for, so it gives us more options tactically, which is good because especially up front we have many players who can play very direct and they can take a big benefit for his skills.”
