DEAL CLOSE: Arsenal finally won the race over Man united to complete the signing of £60m striker, announcement imminent
Arsenal have reportedly taken the first steps in their plan to beat Manchester United to the signing of Joshua Zirkzee.
The Bologna striker’s future has been the subject of speculation during the January transfer window. Arsenal have been linked with the potential signing of Zirkzee, although they are not the only club apparently interested with Premier League rivals United also in need of a new forward.
It has been reported by Corriere dello Sport that Arsenal have taken the first steps in their plan to sign Zirkzee, and have informed Bologna of their intent to sign the striker, but not until the summer transfer window.
The article claims that the Gunners have told the forward’s current club they are prepared to pay more than €40 million (£34 million) to sign the 22-year-old.
Man United are also mentioned in the report and are also apparently willing to pay the aforementioned amount to sign Zirkzee in the summer.
Bayern Munich sold Zirkzee to Bologna in the summer of 2022, and the striker has since scored 10 goals in 43 appearances for the Serie A club.
A recent report from Football Italia claimed that Zirkzee has a €40 million (£34 million) release clause in his contract, but that can only be activated by his former club, Bayern. It goes on to say that should Zirkzee be sold to a different club, then Bayern would be entitled to 40 per cent of the transfer fee.
Napoli and AC Milan have also been credited with an interest in signing Zirkzee. The striker has scored eight goals in 22 appearances in Serie A this season, including in the league game against Milan on Saturday night.
Arsenal have been heavily linked with the possibility of signing a striker during the January transfer window. However, with the deadline on Thursday, Mikel Arteta and Co. look increasingly likely to go into the second half of the season with Gabriel Jesus, Eddie Nketiah and Kai Havertz as his main centre-forward options.
