Man United's £34m capture of 23-year-old forward 'hinges on' Greenwood exit

Manchester United's bid to sign Bologna forward Joshua Zirkzee during this summer's transfer window is allegedly directly related to the future of Mason Greenwood.

Zirkzee, 23, has a release clause of £34m in his Bologna's contract, and Man United are believed to be willing to pay that amount to secure his signature this summer.

However, according to inews, the Red Devils will only be able to fast-track a deal for the Dutchman if they sell Greenwood, with the Englishman's future currently the subject of much speculation.

The report claims that Man United want at least £30m for Greenwood this summer, although various add-ons in his potential exit could see the deal move closer to £40m.

Juventus and Napoli have previously been credited with an interest, but it is being reported that Lazio are currently at the head of the queue for the Red Devils academy product.

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Man United 'keen to sell Greenwood imminently'

Greenwood scored 10 goals and registered six assists in 36 appearances while on loan at Getafe last season, and he is now seemingly preparing to leave Man United on a permanent basis.

Getafe president Angel Torres recently suggested that the Englishman would be remaining at the club for another season, while Barcelona and Atletico Madrid have also been linked with his services.

However, it is believed that the strongest interest is currently arriving from Italy, with Lazio seemingly in the driving seat when it comes to a potential transfer.

Jadon Sancho is another Man United forward who is expected to leave this summer, with the 20-time English champions under pressure to make some sales due to their delicate financial situation.

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Would Zirkzee be a good signing for Man United?

Zirkzee enjoyed a productive 2023-24 campaign for Bologna, scoring 12 goals and registering seven assists in 37 appearances in all competitions, including 11 goals and five assists in Serie A.

Since arriving at Bologna from Bayern Munich in 2022, he has represented the Italian outfit on 58 occasions, scoring 14 goals and registering nine assists in the process.

In the current market, £34m is not a lot of money for a player of his ilk, but Man United will seemingly have to move quickly, as a number of other clubs, including Arsenal, are said to be showing an interest.

The Red Devils desperately need to bring in competition for Rasmus Hojlund next season, and Zirkzee certainly fits the bill in terms of a different option in the final third of the field.

However, if Man United have to sell Greenwood before moving for the Dutchman, then the club could well miss out on one of the biggest bargains of the summer market.

Written by
Matt Law