Manchester United have finalised a transfer deal to sign striker Joshua Zirkzee less than 12 months after splashing out £72million on Rasmus Hojlund, who had a mixed debut season
Manchester United forward Rasmus Hojlund is ‘hungry’ for the new season and the battle to be Erik ten Hag’s starting striker.
Hojlund, 21, had a challenging first season at Old Trafford and finished on 16 goals in all competitions. The young Dane was relied on for almost the entirety of the campaign without a backup – but now there’s set to be competition.
United have agreed a £36million deal to sign Dutch striker Joshua Zirkzee from Italian side Bologna. The 23-year-old scored 11 Serie A goals last term to fire Bologna into the Champions League places, although he’s prepared to step down to the Europa League with United.
A 6ft 3in and used to being a lone striker like Hojlund, it’s expected that only one of them will make it into Ten Hag’s starting line-up once the new season gets going. Hojlund, though, is ready for the tussle, as he explained on Instagram.
Posting a picture of himself on holiday eating a huge tomahawk steak, the former Atalanta hotshot wrote as the caption: “This is how hungry I am for the season to start.”
Hojlund’s team-mates were loving his post in the replies, with midfielder Mason Mount writing: “Madman,” alongside three laughing emojis. “Enjoy your holidays and stay calm,” added defender Lisandro Martinez. Forward Alejandro Garnacho also posted: “It will be scary but not for us,” in an ominous warning to their rivals.
Centre-back Harry Maguire spotted a glass of wine next to Hojlund and hilariously wrote: “I hope that’s blackcurrant in that glass.”
Your turn! Who’ll start for Man Utd next season – Rasmus Hojlund or Joshua Zirkzee? Let us know in the comments section
Zirkzee is expected to provide competition for Hojlund after he completes his medical at the Red Devils’ Carrington training ground on Friday. United have agreed to pay slightly more than the Dutchman’s £34m release clause because that would’ve needed to be paid immediately as a lump sum.
The higher fee allows the Red Devils to pay for Zirkzee over a three-year period. The ex-Bayern Munich prospect – who had loan spells with Parma and Anderlecht before signing for Bologna in 2022 – made his debut for the Netherlands last weekend, coming on as a second-half substitute during their quarter-final victory over Turkey.
Zirkzee came on in injury time against England on Wednesday but he couldn’t help Ronald Koeman’s side respond to Ollie Watkins’ 91st-minute winner. Zirkzee’s debut for United could come as soon as Monday, as the Red Devils face Norweigan side Rosenborg in Trondheim to begin their globe-trotting pre-season tour.
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