Manchester United ‘agree terms’ with Joshua Zirkzee in impressive £12m find

Kobbie Mainoo was once again a standout performer for England as Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag would no doubt have been watching with delight.

The Three Lions booked their place in the semi-finals of Euro 2024 after beating Switzerland on penalties. It was another impressive run for Mainoo who continued in midfield and performed flawlessly in Dusseldorf.

United’s pre-season is fast approaching, with players expected to make a gradual return as the international tournaments draw to a close. Transfer rumors continue to swirl, with a host of players linked with a move away from Old Trafford, including Mason Greenwood, after the MEN reported that Marseille and Lazio had submitted bids for the 22-year-old.

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Here, MEN Sport take a look at the latest from Old Trafford.

Courtesy of Joshua Zirkzee

According to Caught Offside, Manchester United have moved ahead of AC Milan in the race to sign Joshua Zirkzee following the Italian club’s failure to agree a deal with Bologna.

Sources have told the media that United have reached an agreement on personal terms with the Dutch striker. Talks are said to be ongoing with the Serie A side over the details of how his £34m release clause will be paid.

United are on the hunt for a new striker following the departure of Anthony Martial plus the struggles in front of goal in their attacking department from the previous Premier League campaign.

MEN Sport says: Manchester United will likely have to wait to continue negotiations with the player after Holland booked their place in the semi-finals. Zirkzee was a late change from Ronald Koemann as the Oranje turned the game on its head after trailing for 35 minutes.

Erik ten Hag will need to strengthen his striking options, whether he is with one striker or two, but if the reports about Zirkzee are true, he will be a good option to have in their attacking department and will arrive in the Premier League in -a good form. , a move should materialize.

There is the question of whether United need a different profile for a striker, with both Rasmus Holjund and Zirkzee being target men to some extent, which may add a new dimension to their counter-attack.

Donny van de Beek close to exiting United

Manchester United midfielder Donny van de Beek is on the verge of signing for Girona as he looks to revive his career.

The Dutchman has had a difficult time in England after his highly-anticipated move to United from Ajax failed to live up to expectations. Van de Beek endured loan spells with Everton and Eintracht Frankfurt but was unable to cement a starting place at either club.

De Telegraaf reports that Girona have reached an agreement with Manchester United and will sign a four-year contract with the club. United, it has been suggested, could bank up to €15m (£12m).

MEN Sport says: In a summer where United needed to offload some of their fringe players, Donny van de Beek could be the start of the sale. After years of mismanagement and overspending in the transfer window, Van de Beek is an example of a player who arrived with so much potential but couldn’t live up to expectations. Although there have been successes in recent years, the former Ajax man will have an unfortunate blemish on his transfer record.

A reported fee of £12m is well below the price United paid for him, but it is also an admirable return for a player who has struggled so badly over the past four years. His departure could mark a changing of the guard under football’s new hierarchy since Sir Jim Ratcliffe came on board.