It is a badly kept secret that Manchester United are looking to make a move for Joshua Zirkzee this summer. But amongst all the hype serious analysis must be given as to whether he is a good signing for the club.
The young striker played a pivotal role in helping Bologna unexpectedly qualify for Europe, but there are lots of reasons to feel mixed over Joshua Zirkzee’s potential transfer move.
Sky Sports among others report United are in talks over a move for Zirkzee.
How Joshua Zirkzee might fit in
Joshua Zirkzee brings a lot of skills to Manchester United, but the question is whether he is a tactical fit for the side.
If he does join the team he will be coming from a Bologna team that play almost the opposite style of football to Manchester United. Bologna play slow intricate football in the Serie A, averaging around 4.4 Passes Per Sequence.
They keep possession of the ball and try to counter deep defences or pressing sides with intricate passing sequences, shown by the fact that they have the second most 10+ pass sequences in the Serie A.
This is in contrast to Manchester United who are much more direct in their approach with 3.6 Passes Per Sequence.
Also Manchester United had the most direct attacks in the Premier League last season, 101, compared to Bologna’s 44 in total.
The Red Devils are not ones to spend too much time on the ball, looking to transition quickly and thus they were tenth in the league for 10+ pass sequences in the Serie A.
Looking at Zirkzee’s own playstyle he is not a big goalscorer but incredibly creative. He has been deployed in the Serie A to drop deep and help in link-up play with quality passing and dribbling allowing his teammates to pick up possession in dangerous areas.
Zirkzee has some of the best passing statistics of forwards in Europe with lots of Key Passes, Progressing Passes and Passes Into The Penalty Area being a big part of his game.
He is also incredibly hard working with lots of defensive work done across the pitch.
Hojlund Comparisons
The young Dutch forward’s playstyle is almost in direct contrast to the style of Rasmus Hojlund, which could give a significant benefit to the team.
The issue for much of last season was that Hojlund was not getting enough service. His goal drought was a symptom of poor chance creation by teammates rather than his finishing. In fact, he had fantastic shooting statistics.
Zirkzee, if deployed alone, could allow other players to create chances, and if Erik ten Hag can find a way to play him with Hojlund they may help each other with link-up play.
Instead of being a deputy for Hojlund, he can offer a tactical difference, which is quite good for the team to make them less predictable.
Fitness Issues
One positive of Zirkzee is his age, 23. It gives him time to adapt to the league and also it improves the profile of the squad to not have another addition of a player who may be out of peak playing condition soon, in contrast to veteran star Casemiro.
But Zirkzee’s injury history does raise concerns. He has had worrying muscular issues in the Serie A, which is a much less physically demanding league than the Premier League.
In the 2023/24 season he has had a recurrent hamstring injury, which given the struggles with injuries for Manchester United last season will be a warning, for if he will be able to adapt.
Zirkzee to United an opportunity
Overall there are a lot of positives to the deal. The low price that Manchester United could get him for, his £34 million release clause, is especially appealing in the new era of financial rules. It offers a low risk opportunity.
He may take time to adapt to a totally new footballing style with Manchester United, but the squad has Rasmus Hojlund, so there is no dependence on Zirkzee, and this can allow him to bed in.
In fact, because Hojlund is on the side means that the two can work in tandem to offer a range of problems for opposition with unpredictability, and together, they could be an excellent fit.