With Joshua Zirkzee set to complete his Manchester United medical today, the 23-year-old forward will become Erik ten Hag‘s first signing of a busy summer window.
Known for his tenacity and graft, the player is uncompromising in his work ethic and desire to excel on the field.
His role in Thiago Motta’s Bologna machine was well-noted, with pundits running out of methods to define his weekly output.
As a forward, he is not quite your natural number nine. Instead, he thrives in linking play with his teammates.
That said, he is equally capable of finding the net, and his 12 goals in 37 appearances complement the seven assists he supplied throughout the campaign.
For a fee slightly above £35 Million, United are purchasing a dynamic forward player who can transform any attack while providing an age profile to accommodate an Ineos rebuild.
A memorable Serie A season
The 2023/24 season was iconic for Rossoblù – sealing Champions League qualification for the first time since 1965.
Zirkzee played a starring role in his side’s fifth-place finish, leading the line with his endless work rate.
While his domestic goal tally of 11 was only the tenth-best in Italy, his metrics for forward play, pressing and combination work were amongst the elite.
Compared to his rival strikers in the division, he ranked first in tackles (31) and possessions won in the attacking third (30).
Additionally, he placed second for total touches (1523) and possession retrieved in the defensive third (24).
His abilities shine through his link-play and desire to enable his attacking teammates in chance creation – ranking second for through balls attempted (7), 4th for chances created (43) and sixth for assists (4).
How does this benefit United?
Alongside Dan Ashworth‘s backroom team, Ten Hag aims to harness a fluid motion that relies on calculated possession and a dedicated high press.
His wide players provide an endless assault, with the youth and invigoration of Rasmus Hojlund offering a willing outlet centrally.
Throughout the 2023-24 calendar, the consensus was a requirement to offer the Danish forward more goal-scoring opportunities.
Zirkzee has previously stated that he may benefit from operating alongside a natural number nine, leading to the suggestion that both he and Hojlund can coexist in an attacking system.
The Dutchman is a technically savvy, deep-lying forward who often operated as a false nine. Fundamentally, his hold-up play is second to none, with an imperious stature and a 1.93-metre frame.
Often playing with his back to the goal, his positional awareness is remarkable, and his first touch is a skill that few players are born with.
In dropping deep to collect possession, he thrives in progressing the football, offering an average of 2.81 progressive passes and 1.7 successful take-ons per 90 minutes.
As mentioned above, his link play is sensational, with an uncanny ability to benefit from closely controlled one-two transitions.
That metric is highlighted in short passing completion, ranking in the top seven percentile with 14.55 completed per outing. Furthermore, the versatile forward averaged 1.4 key passes per game.
If the Schiedam man lines out as the sole striker, his role will entail acting as an attacking outlet and a facilitator for his marauding wide players.
However, he has the arsenal to sit behind Hojlund to link play and move forward to join the attack as a second striker – while utilising his high press with an average ball recovery of 3.36 per outing.
His versatility in the attacking line will prove an invaluable asset for Ten Hag and offer multiple options throughout the campaign.
While some scoff at his goal rate, this is the definition of a shrewd signing for a little over £35 M.
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