Why Manchester United have signed Joshua Zirkzee, and what it means for Rasmus Højlund | OneFootball

Having had a myriad of potential suitors to move to this summer, Joshua Zirkzee has officially chosen his destination, signing onto a five year year deal at Manchester United from Bologna for a reported fee of around €40m.

With United wary of potential breaches of the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability regulations (PSR), the deal will see them pay slightly more than the €40m release clause in his Bologna contract, consequently allowing The Red Devils to agree to ‘more favorable’ payment terms over a three-year period, rather than paying the clause outright – as per Fabrizio Romano.

But amid such PSR concerns, and multiple expensive and talented attackers already on their books, why have United signed the Netherlands international? Who is he? How will his skillset fit in Erik ten Hag’s setup? And what could his arrival spell for the future of Rasmus Højlund at the Old Trafford club?

This will explain it all.

About Zirkzee:

A Feyenoord youth player, Zirkzee was picked up by Bayern Munich’s academy in 2017, but failed to establish himself in Germany after making just four starts and 12 appearances across one-and-a-half Bundesliga season’s, scoring three goals.

The striker subsequently endured an underwhelming six-month loan at Parma, before impressing on loan at Belgian side Anderlecht with 16 league goals and nine assists under Vincent Kompany in the 2021/22 campaign.

Those performances were enough for Bologna to pay Bayern €8.5m for Zirkzee’s services in August 2022, where he has thrived under now-Juventus head coach Thiago Motta.

Last season the 23-year-old finished as the team’s top goal contributor in Serie A with 11 goals and 4 assists in 32 starts, playing a pivotal role as they Bologna achieved Champions League qualification for the first time since 1965. But what made him so influential?

Zirkzee’s skillset and fit in Ten Hag’s side:

Whilst not an out-and-out goalscorer, the young Dutchman has a multi-faceted skillset that allows him to influence play in all areas of the pitch. As such, he often operates as more of a deep-lying forward, rather than a typical target man as his 6’4” frame may suggest.

He possesses fantastic technical qualities and positional intelligence, that see him adeptly drop off defenders and link play, turn and take-on his man himself, but also create space with good movement and quick feet in-and-around the box, where he’s able to finish on either foot (five of his 11 league goals came on his weaker left).

This well-rounded profile means Zirkzee could contribute in Ten Hag’s attacking setup in a variety of ways.

His comfort in between the lines means he could play behind Rasmus Højlund in a no.10 like role, instead of him to offer an alternative profile up front, or, perhaps most intriguingly, alongside the Dane.

In any of these three roles, expect to see Zirkzee lure in defenders as he drops off to link up with the likes of Bruno Fernandes and Kobbie Mainoo, whilst Højlund (and/or United’s wingers) focuses on exploiting the space left in behind and finding lucrative chances in the box – thus particularly maximising the 21-year-old’s frightening pace and power.

Højlund and Zirkzee – the perfect striking balance?

As such although there may be initial doubts as to whether the signing of Zirkzee may stunt the development of Højlund- who joined for €70m himself just last summer – the former’s arrival may actually bring the best out of the Danish international, and himself in the process.

Højlund will be provided with more service, whilst both’s contrasting skillset’s will enable them to focus on their respective strengths, and get rest when neccesary.

And – perhaps most importantly for Højlund given his occasional struggles in front of goal last season – neither will have to individually take-on the overwhelming goal-scoring burden that has troubled so many of United’s strikers over the recent years.

Travis Levison | Get Football