Man Utd to begin summer spending with £35.8m deal for Dutch striker Joshua Zirkzee

Joshua Zirkzee is set to undergo a medical with Manchester United on Friday ahead of a proposed £35.8 million move to Old Trafford.

The Netherlands striker was due to fly to England on Thursday night as he prepares to become the first signing of the Ineos era at United.

United could have triggered a €40 million (£33.7 million) release clause in Zirkzee’s contract but that would have necessitated having to pay the fee in one instalment.

Instead, United have negotiated a slightly higher fee of €42.5m (£35.8m) with Bologna for the 23-year-old but one that allows them to spread the payments over a three year period.

Zirkzee is expected to sign a five-year contract to June 2029 with the option of an additional year.

The Dutchman was a stoppage-time substitute in England’s 2-1 defeat of the Netherlands in Wednesday’s Euro 2024 semi-final in Dortmund.

He will effectively serve as a replacement for Anthony Martial, who left the club last month.

Comfortable as a lone striker or as a deeper lying forward alongside Rasmus Hojlund, United feel he will give them greater options in attack. He scored 11 goals in 34 appearances for Bologna last season, playing a key role in the Italian club’s qualification for the Champions League.

With Mason Greenwood expected to join Marseille in a £26.6m deal, United have not ruled out the possibility of bringing in another striker before the close of the window on August 30. Brentford’s Ivan Toney is one player they are keeping tabs on.

The England striker has entered the final 12 months of his contract at Brentford and could present an opportunity depending on his price tag. Dominic Calvert-Lewin is another striker of similar profile who has also entered the final year of his contract at Everton although his injury record would be a concern.

United have announced the departure of midfield flop Donny van de Beek for Girona. Four years after arriving in a £40m deal from Ajax, the Netherlands midfielder has joined Girona for just £420,000 although add ons could take the deal up to £7.7m depending on his and the Spanish club’s success. United have also negotiated a high sell-on fee should Van de Beek move on in the future.

The 27-year-old made just six Premier League starts for United and is one of the most glaring examples of the club’s shambolic transfer policy over the last decade.

Van Nistelrooy returns

Erik ten Hag admitted his coaching staff needed a “refresh” after Manchester United announced his fellow Dutchmen Ruud van Nistelrooy and Rene Hake have joined his backroom team at Old Trafford.

Although Steve McClaren and Darren Fletcher have been retained in new roles as senior first-team coach and first-team coach respectively, the arrival of Van Nistelrooy and Hake has seen Ten Hag’s No. 2 Mitchell van der Gaag exit.

Forward coach Benni McCarthy has also left along with goalkeeping coach Richard Hartis, who is being replaced by Dutchman Jelle ten Rouwelaar.

Sir Dave Brailsford and Jason Wilcox held a series of meetings with United’s first team players over the final months of last season and it became apparent that there was support within the squad for a shake-up of the coaching staff.

Ten Hag also carried out his own analysis of the situation, which formed part of the discussions around United’s decision to trigger an option to extend the manager’s contract by 12 months to June 2026.

Van Nistelrooy and Hake both have experience in management and their willingness to park their own No 1 ambitions to join United as Ten Hag’s principal assistants is considered a coup within Old Trafford.

Hake, 52, has spent the past two years in charge of Dutch side Go Ahead Eagles and was previously at Utrecht for 18 months, clubs at which Ten Hag also previously managed. He has also held roles with Twente, Cambuur and Emmen over a 20-year career in coaching.

Former United striker Van Nistelrooy, who scored 150 goals in 219 appearances for the club between 2001 and 2006, led Feyenoord to the Dutch Cup in his sole season in charge in 2022-23. The 48-year-old resigned with a game of the season to go, citing a lack of support.

The pair have signed deals until June 2026.

“I am delighted that Rene and Ruud have agreed to join our project, adding a wealth of experience, knowledge and new energy to the staff,” Ten Hag said.

“Now is a good time to refresh the coaching team as we look to build on the achievements of the past two years and push to the next level.”

Dan Ashworth, the United sporting director, said the refresh was an “important” move forward as the club bid to bounce back after their worst season of the Premier League era.

“Together with Erik, we are working to strengthen all areas of our men’s first team operations, and refreshing the coaching staff is an important part of that,” he said.

“It’s a particular pleasure to welcome Ruud back to the club where he enjoyed so much success as a player, and I know that he and Rene will help reinforce the winning mentality and high standards we are aiming for.”

Van der Gaag is expected to pursue his ambitions to become a manager in his own right now he has left United.

“Mitchell has decided that now is the right time for him to pursue his own ambitions in a number one position,” Ten Hag said.

“I want to pay tribute to his fantastic service over the past two years, and also to Benni for his important contribution. We send them our thanks and best wishes for the future.”

Other changes behind the scenes are also afoot. Gary O’Driscoll has been overseeing an overhaul of the club’s medical set-up since arriving as head of sports medicine from Arsenal in September. Head physio Robin Sadler left in January and was replaced by Jordan Reece, also from Arsenal, and now two more physiotherapists, Richard Merron and John Davin, are leaving. Ibrahim Keren had already moved across from the women’s team to join the men’s set-up at United.