Bologna send message to Manchester United over Joshua Zirkzee transfer

Bologna have confirmed that Manchester United target Joshua Zirkzee is ‘99.9 per cent’ likely to leave the club this summer.

United are looking to sign a new striker to provide competition for Rasmus Hojlund having failed to add to Erik ten Hag’s squad in the January transfer window.

Zirkzee is on United’s shortlist alongside Lille forward Jonathan David, who has just a year left on his contract with the French club.

AC Milan had appeared to be on course to sign Zirkzee after reaching an agreement with the Bologna striker, however, the move hit a stumbling block as they are refusing to pay an additional €15m (£12.6m) in commission to the player’s representative Kia Joorabchian.

That has left the door open for United to sign Zirkzee, who is available due to a €40 million (£33.7m) release clause in his contract with Bologna.

And now Bologna’s technical director, Giovanni Sartori, has confirmed that the club have already been working on signing a replacement for the 23-year-old.

‘Zirkzee has a clause so he will leave 99.9 per cent,’ Sartori told Sky Sport Italia on Monday evening.

‘We have been thinking about his replacement for months.

‘It won’t be easy but we will work to replace him, we already have some names, some ideas.’

Elsewhere, United are in talks to sign Bayern Munich centre-back Matthijs de Ligt.

The Netherlands international is keen on a move to United and reports in the Dutch media have claimed that he has already spoken directly to Ten Hag over a switch to Old Trafford.

Bayern are holding out for a €50m (£42m) fee for De Ligt, who started just 16 games in the Bundesliga last season.

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