Arsenal have prepared a contract worth €5m a year (approximately £82,000 a week) for Bologna forward Joshua Zirkzee, according to the Corriere Dello Sport (via Sport Witness).
The Gunners believe they have a good chance of securing the Dutchman’s services ahead of their rivals, due to the identity of the player’s agent.
Kia Joorabchian, who represents Zirkzee, has close ties with Arsenal sporting director Edu and that could give the London club the edge in negotiations for the striker.
The Corriere Dello Sport claim that Joorabchian would prefer the 23-year-old to make the switch to the Emirates, but it remains to be seen if the player agrees.
Which clubs are interested in signing Zirkzee?
It is believed that the Gunners will have to fend off the likes of AC Milan, Juventus and (potentially) Manchester United if they want to snap up the Netherlands Under 21 international.
Zirkzee has a €40m (£34m) release clause in his contract so it may come down to which team is prepared to pay the requisite fee. Bologna are not expected to accept offers below that amount as they owe 50% to the player’s previous club Bayern Munich.
Arsenal are looking at alternative targets
Zirkzee is by no means the only striker that the London club are looking at. RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko and Sporting Lisbon’s Vikor Gyokeres are also being scouted.
However, both players will be more expensive than Zirkzee. Sesko’s buyout fee currently stands at €65m (£55m), while Sporting are not expected to sell Gyokeres unless a team is prepared to pay the €100m (£85m) release clause in the Swedish international’s contract.
There is no doubt that Zirkzee would be the riskiest purchase of the three. He scored just 12 goals last season but he does have bags of potential.
