June 28th 2024.
Erik ten Hag has been putting in the work to secure a crucial deal for Manchester United. In his efforts to bolster the team this summer, he personally reached out to Joshua Zirkzee to discuss a potential move to the club. Ten Hag sees Zirkzee as one of the top targets for United, believing that his addition would be a major boost for the team.
After deciding to stick with ten Hag for the upcoming season, United are now eager to make at least three signings. A holding midfielder and a new centre-half are among their top priorities, with a recent approach made for Paris Saint-Germain's Manuel Ugarte. However, the Red Devils are also exploring other options, including a potential move for Everton's Jarrad Branthwaite and Bayern Munich's Matthijs de Ligt.
But it seems that Zirkzee has emerged as their top target to reinforce their forward line. With Rasmus Hojlund currently facing pressure as the main striker, United are looking to bring in another option. The 23-year-old, who is currently with the Netherlands squad at Euro 2024, has a release clause of £33.8m, which United are willing to meet. Though AC Milan and Juventus are also interested in keeping Zirkzee in Italy, ten Hag has personally reached out to his fellow Dutchman to discuss the move.
According to reports, ten Hag has a great deal of respect for Zirkzee and considers him one of the club's top priorities. In fact, the two have spoken in recent days about the potential move. Zirkzee left the Netherlands in 2017 to join Bayern Munich's academy, making 17 appearances for the German giants before going on loan to Parma and Anderlecht. After a successful stint in Belgium, he joined Bologna, where he played a key role in securing a fifth-place finish and a spot in next season's Champions League, scoring 12 goals and providing seven assists in 37 appearances.
Not only is United looking to strengthen their squad, but they are also set to bring in new faces in the coaching staff. Rene Hake, head coach of Dutch side Go Ahead Eagles, has confirmed that he is joining ten Hag's staff. And there are reports that United legend Ruud van Nistelrooy is close to reaching an agreement to return to Manchester. It's an exciting time for United, and fans can stay updated with all the latest news, exclusives, and analysis by signing up for our newsletter.
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