AC Milan are reportedly set to trigger Bologna striker Joshua Zirkzee’s €40m release clause as we look to secure his signature this summer.
The 23-year-old enjoyed an impressive campaign this past season, scoring 12 goals and providing seven assists in 37 appearances for the Rossoblu, as they experienced a memorable year and qualified for the Champions League.
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With Olivier Giroud departing this summer, there is a major void to be filled up front for the Rossoneri, and it appears as though it will be the Dutch U21 international who will emerge as the solution after various names had been paired with a switch in recent weeks.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Milan have informed Bologna of our intention to trigger his €40m release clause, and so now it has progressed to discussing personal terms as we try to wrap up a major summer transfer.
Although the deal is far from done, it’s a major indication that after analysing and assessing their options, the Milan management believe that Zirkzee is the best available target to fill that void up top, and ultimately that he will prove to be the best fit for our style and structure moving forward under a new coach.
While the expectation is that it will be Paulo Fonseca who succeeds Stefano Pioli ahead of next season, it was imperative that we added firepower and a focal point to lead the line to replace what Giroud offered us, and if it is Zirzkee who arrives in the coming weeks, it’s hoped that the Dutch striker proves to be the right choice.
That’s one of several positions though that the Rossoneri need to address this summer in order to strengthen the squad and make us more competitive, and so it will be interesting to see who arrives and who departs as we look to end the transfer window in a better position and with a group better suited to Fonseca’s ideas and principles.