£64m Man Utd and Arsenal striker target 'prefers' different move

Bologna striker Joshua Zirkzee would 'prefer' to stay in Serie A and is open to joining Milan, with the Rossoneri set to make an opening bid for the Arsenal and Manchester United target, reports in Italy claim.

Zirkzee is enjoying a fine season with Bologna, registering ten goals and four assists in 28 Serie A games so far. The Rossoblu, who are managed by former Barcelona and Inter midfielder Thiago Motta, are on course to secure Champions League qualification for the first time in the club's history.

90min revealed in January that the Dutchman's performances hadn't gone unnoticed among Europe's elite, with Arsenal and United among the clubs monitoring his development.

However, Italian outlet Gazzetta dello Sport report Milan have made Zirkzee their top striker target and are ready to offer €50m (£43m) plus Alexis Saelemaekers, who is currently on loan at Bologna, in order to attain him.

Bologna will hold out for a higher fee and are already looking at the €75m (£64m) paid up front by United to sign Rasmus Hojlund from fellow Serie A side Atalanta last summer as a comparable yardstick.

Though Zirkzee would gladly head to San Siro, Milan do not want to pay that high a price for a new young forward, particularly given they paid a similarly substantial sum to sign Charles De Ketelaere in 2022.

Bayern Munich, where Zirkzee came through the academy and made 17 senior appearances before his 2022 sale to Bologna, are also considering signing the striker, but he has 'no great intention' to return to the Allianz Arena, where he would play second-fiddle to Harry Kane.

Gazzetta do, however, add Arsenal and United remain in the race and point out the riches of Premier League clubs could make Milan's task of signing Zirkzee that much more difficult if Bologna essentially made it an auction.

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