Bayern Munich will receive £17million as part of the deal involving Joshua Zirkzee's move to Manchester United from Bologna.
The Red Devils appear to have already agreed terms with the Dutch forward and his representatives in relation to a move and are now faced with the decision of whether to activate his £34m release clause or to negotiate another figure. It is said the release clause needs to be paid in full.
Reports in Germany suggest that Bayern hold a 50 per cent sell-on clause from when Zirkzee made the move to Bologna in 2022. Therefore, should United finalise a £34m deal for the forward, Bayern will collect £17m after inserting the clever clause. The 23-year-old striker made 17 appearances for the Bundesliga giants and enjoyed loans to Anderlecht and Parma before moving to his current club.
Zirkzee spent five years in Bayern's set-up after a youth career that saw stints with Spartaan '20, ADO Den Haag and Feyenoord. The Netherlands international has seen his reputation grow during his two years with Bologna however, and he netted 12 times in 37 appearances last term.
The young forward is currently at Euro 2024 in Germany. Zirkzee made his first appearance at the tournament against Turkey as Netherlands came from behind to record a 2-1 win and progress to the competition's semi-final stage to face England.
Following that match, Zirkzee was coy on his future when journalists asked if he would remain in Italy for 2024/25. "I don’t know, let’s see," he simply replied.
That his future instead lies in Manchester appears increasingly likely. The 13-times Premier League champions have made Zirkzee their priority striker target this summer.
United's recruitment team have determined that the former Bayern prospect is the ideal candidate to supporter Rasmus Hojlund. The club's ambition is to both provide competition for the Denmark striker and to ease the burden place on him to deliver goals.
Hojlund netted 16 times last season, 10 of which came in the Premier League. United managed just 57 goals in the division as the finished in eighth to record the club's worst finish in 34 years.
While Zirkzee offers plenty as a forward, he is also comfortable linking play in deeper positions and drifting out wide. It is said he will also be able to complement Hojlund, with one of his greater strengths being his ability to receive possession deep, often on the turn, to then run with the ball and take on the opposition.