When Andy Cole spoke about his concerns with Rasmus Hojlund before the Manchester United striker scored in Wednesday’s 3-2 win over Newcastle, his comments felt less like criticism and more like handy advice.
The£64 million summer signing, the legendary Cole said, should spend less time wrestling with opposition centre-halves and more time finding pockets of space, making runs and stretching the backline.
There is certainly nothing wrong with Rasmus Hojlund‘s finishing. His 15th of a promising debut season in midweek means he has the best conversion rate in the whole of the Premier League.
But the 21-year-old remains a work in progress, Hojlund’s ability to link the play and bring his team-mates into the game areas where further development is still required.
In that sense, the United-linked Joshua Zirkee is something of an anti-Hojlund.
Where he lacks in terms of sticking the ball in the back of the net, the balletic Bologna forward makes up for when dropping deep, bamboozling defenders with his movement and bringing out the best of his fellow attackers.
Manchester United in Joshua Zirkzee race
According to Sport Italia, Man United are one of a number of clubs keeping tabs on Zirkzee.
The Red Devils want another option up front. And while Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres are strikers in a similar mould to Hojlund, Zirkzee would bring an entirely different dimension to the Red Devils attack.
What’s more, the one-time Bayern Munich youngster appears to be available for around £15 million less than first reported.
The £34 million release clause in his Bologna contract, some had said, was available only to Bayern, as part of an agreement made when he moved to the Champions League-bound Serie A outfit last summer.
Gazzetta dello Sport, however, now clarify that £34 million clause can be triggered not only by Bayern but by any of his suitors, Man United among them.
Given the fees required to bring in young, exciting attackers these days – United paid nearly £70 million for Hojlund after just one season in a major European league – then the price-tag on Zirkzee’s head feels like something of a bargain.
Serie A ace available for just £34 million
More stylish and cerebral than the physical, old-school Hojlund, 22-year-old Zirkzee has been likened to Dimitar Berbatov by some.
Comparisons made with the Bulgarian’s gorgeous technical ability in mind, Zirkzee is the sort of ‘facilitator’, Firmino-esque forward who’s ability to open up space and link the play could be key to getting more out of Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho, Bruno Fernandes and co.
“Joshua is a modern striker,” Bologna team-mate Lorenzo de Silvestri tells Tuttomercatoweb of Zirkzee, who has also been likened to Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Robin van Persie.
“He is modern because he links the game and communicates with the team. He is a technical leader because he takes on great responsibilities.
“I wish him the best because he is working so hard. He combines his physical power with wonderful technique. He has (also) changed the way he trains.
“This year he is doing it in an incredible way.”