Joshua Zirkzee: Arsenal accelerate deal - sources
Arsenal have joined the race to sign Man United target Joshua Zirkzee from Bologna.
Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider's Inside Track podcast, senior correspondent Pete O'Rourke revealed whilst United remain publicly interested in the Dutch striker, the Gunners are also monitoring Zirkzee.
AC Milan had been in pole position to take Zirkzee from their Serie A rivals, but the deal has recently stalled.
Joining Bologna from Bayern Munich in 2022, the 6'4'' centre-forward has enjoyed the 2023-24 campaign both individually and collectively - contributing with 11 goals and five assists to help I Rossoblu qualify for next season's Champions League.
The key factor for Erik ten Hag's side is the player's release clause of around £34m, which is favourable in the current market as Football Insider reported [20 June] that the club were hopeful of a positive outcome from ongoing talks.
Man United remain hopeful of Zirkzee deal
The news of Arsenal's interest is an unwelcome distraction for Manchester United due to Mikel Arteta's side's pull of Champions League football, which Zirkzee would be sacrificing should he leave Bologna for Old Trafford this summer.
The 23-year-old is said to "tick all the boxes" for ten Hag, having been highly rated by various European clubs for a long time.
Several players are also expected to leave Man United this summer as the club look to drastically improve on last season's eighth-placed Premier League showing.
The recruitment of Zirkzee is a deal the club would prefer to get over the line in time for pre-season at Carrington.
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