Sir Jim Ratcliffe ready to spend more than asking price to sign Ten Hag’s target
Sir Jim Ratcliffe has shown plenty of ambition in his early days at Manchester United REUTERS/Phil Noble
Manchester United have agreed a deal to sign Bologna forward Joshua Zirkzee—and quite creatively so.
The Dutch international, who bagged 12 goals and 7 assists as Bologna qualified for the Champions League this season, had a release clause worth £33.6m (€40m) in his Bologna contract.
The Red Devils were expected to trigger that very clause following the conclusion of his EURO 2024 campaign with the Netherlands, where the Oranje got knocked out in the semis by England.
But surprising one and all, the Old Trafford club has finalised this transfer by paying a transfer fee slightly above the release clause. According to reports, they have signed the forward for just over £35m (€42.5m), according to Sky Sports.
Higher transfer fee for Zirkzee to ease Manchester United’s FFP worries
Had Manchester United simply activated Joshua Zirkzee’s €40m release clause, they would have had to pay the entire amount altogether.
But now that they have slightly and creatively overpaid, they can pay the transfer fee not as a lump sum up-front, but in instalments that will span over a three-year period.
This creative workaround will not just allow the Mancunian giants to remain on the right side of Financial Fair Play (FFP), but also free up additional funds which they can utilise for other signings during the ongoing summer window.
Manager Erik ten Hag now has his preferred attacking reinforcement — the 23-year-old has already reached Manchester today, as he prepares to put pen to paper on a five-year deal.
Meanwhile, INEOS and co. have already turned their attention elsewhere. Bayern Munich centre-back Matthis de Ligt, and possibly PSG midfielder Manuel Ugarte, are believed to be the next two signings in Manchester United’s 2024 summer window pipeline.