Manchester United 'considering January bid for Joshua Zirkzee'

Manchester United are reportedly weighing up a January approach for Bologna forward Joshua Zirkzee in a bid to address their attacking problems.

The 22-year-old has been in strong form for his Italian club during the 2023-24 campaign, scoring eight goals and registering four assists in 19 appearances in all competitions.

Zirkzee has netted seven times and contributed two assists in 17 Serie A outings, while he has managed one goal and two assists in two outings in the Coppa Italia this term, starring against Inter Milan in the previous round of the competition.

The Dutchman joined Bayern Munich from Feyenoord in 2017, but he found it difficult to make his mark for the German club's first team, and he moved on after making just 17 first-team appearances.

A successful loan spell with Anderlecht during the 2021-22 campaign, when he scored 18 times in all competitions, led to Bologna signing him permanently in August 2022.

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Zirkzee has scored 10 goals and registered six assists in 40 appearances for his Serie A side, and he has a contract with the Red and Blues until June 2026.

According to Sport1, Man United are admirers of the Dutchman and could make a move for him when the January transfer window opens for business.

The report claims that Bayern have a buy-back clause of €22m (£19m), although it is unclear at this stage whether the Bundesliga outfit are considering activating it.

Bologna are thought to value the forward in the region of €30m (£26m), making him a low-cost option for Man United in the current market.

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Newcastle United are also believed to be interested in signing the striker, who has represented Netherlands at Under-21s level but is yet to feature for the senior side.

Rasmus Hojlund scored his first Premier League goal of the campaign in Man United's 3-2 win over Aston Villa on Tuesday, while Alejandro Garnacho netted twice during a brilliant performance.

The Red Devils remain short of options in the final third, though, with Anthony Martial widely expected to leave next year, and Mason Greenwood told over the summer that he will not play for the club again, which led to him joining Getafe on loan.

Man United head coach Erik ten Hag continues to insist that his club are unlikely to be busy in January, but it is believed that the Red Devils are open to signing a new attacker, especially as Jadon Sancho is set to move on due to his falling-out with his manager.