Man Utd preparing to trigger Joshua Zirkzee release clause

Manchester United are preparing a move for Bologna forward Joshua Zirkzee and are prepared to trigger the £33.8million ($42.6m) release clause in his contract.

Rasmus Hojlund is currently the only natural centre-forward option at the club amid the exit of Anthony Martial this month upon the end of his contract. Zirkzee – who scored 12 goals last season – is supposedly a target for United, who are set to have a limited starting budget this summer.

The striker’s apparent low fee would allow more scope for United to search for a new central defenders and a midfielder. Zirkzee is currently away with the Netherlands at Euro 2024, having received a late call-up to Ronald Koeman’s squad.

READ ALSO: NOC Inaugurates sports medicine commission

The Telegraph says despite his inclusion, the player’s agents are in talks with United over a move. It says the club have other options on the table but are admirers of the 23-year-old attacker, who also registered seven assists in his 37 matches last term.

Ratcliffe is expected to sanction sales this summer in a bid to drum up funds for other transfer targets with, Everton duo Jarrad Branthwaite and Amadou Onana of interest, as is Bayer Leverkusen centre-back Edmond Tapsoba.