Serie A heavyweights AC Milan ready to make opening offer for 22-year-old
Bologna striker Joshua Zirkzee would ‘prefer’ to stay in Serie A and is open to joining Milan, with the Rossoneri set to make an opening bid for the Arsenal and Manchester United target, reports in Italy claim.
Zirkzee is enjoying a fine season with Bologna, registering ten goals and four assists in 28 Serie A games so far. The Rossoblu, who are managed by former Barcelona and Inter midfielder Thiago Motta, are on course to secure Champions League qualification for the first time in the club’s history.
Bologna will hold out for a higher fee and are already looking at the €75m (£64m) paid up front by United to sign Rasmus Hojlund from fellow Serie A side Atalanta last summer as a comparable yardstick.
Though Zirkzee would gladly head to San Siro, Milan do not want to pay that high a price for a new young forward, particularly given they paid a similarly substantial sum to sign Charles De Ketelaere in 2022.
Bayern Munich, where Zirkzee came through the academy and made 17 senior appearances before his 2022 sale to Bologna, are also considering signing the striker, but he has ‘no great intention’ to return to the Allianz Arena, where he would play second-fiddle to Harry Kane.
SOURCE – £64m Man Utd and Arsenal striker target ‘prefers’ different move (90min.com)
