Manchester United have completed a deal for Netherlands international Joshua Zirkzee as the club’s first signing of the summer.
Joshua Zirkzee was hailed by Manchester United sporting director Dan Ashworth as having world class potential.
The Netherlands striker expressed his excitement at clinching the move to Old Trafford, leaving former club Bologna behind despite their qualification for the Champions League.
Zirkzee’s move to Manchester United will be of huge benefit to the club. And a few players in particular will reap the rewards the most…
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Rasmus Hojlund
Rasmus Hojlund needs help up front, and that’s no slight on him. Manchester United cannot depend on just one striker across the course of a season that could span more than 60 games in all competitions.
Joshua Zirkzee is the solution to this, and it’s possible another striker could yet follow.
The two players could play in tandem, it’s not necessarily a case of ‘either or’, and Zirkzee can really benefit Hojlund on the pitch, he is a creator as much as he is a goalscorer.
Both players are young and have high potential and Manchester United will hope they can strike up a long-term partnership and complement each other well.
Marcus Rashford
Marcus Rashford’s best football for Manchester United in recent seasons came at the start of 2023 when he had Wout Weghorst alongside him.
While Weghorst struggled for goals, he was a focal point who held the ball up and often dropped deep, allowing Rashford space to run into up front.
Rashford also linked up effectively with Anthony Martial, and Joshua Zirkzee shares traits with both players due to his positioning and strong link play.
Zirkzee will create space in attack which a rejuvenated Rashford can take advantage of as he looks to get back to his best form – and unlike Weghorst, Zirkzee will contribute goals too.
Bruno Fernandes
There has been too much pressure on Bruno Fernandes as Manchester United’s lead creative player. And while that won’t change, others need to step up.
Joshua Zirkzee can have a big impact in this regard. Zirkzee makes Manchester United more unpredictable, he is a creative forward who can pop up anywhere in the final third and will give Erik ten Hag some added attacking options.
Decreasing the load on Fernandes benefits the Portuguese star, and it also makes him more dangerous. Teams cannot dedicate their defensive resources to trying to stop him, not with Zirkzee prowling around the final third.
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