Joshua Zirkzee is on the verge of joining Manchester United, and the reason for that is AC Milan’s unwillingness to pay the commissions needed for the move to happen. Now, Alvaro Morata seems the next best option, maybe the best option including Zirkzee, but are the prices much different?
It is not the first time this will be written, and it certainly will not be the last. However, money rules in football and the mercato, and it is so clear this is the case.
For months, Milan pursued the Dutchman, and he seemed destined to take the No.9 shirt vacated by Olivier Giroud. However, in the last stages, a move collapsed, with the Rossoneri refusing to be charity to an agent.
In the past weeks, money dominated the headlines about the deal, and even though the Diavolo were confident about their chances, they have not been successful. The question now, though, is: Do Milan save money by going for Morata?
As Calciomercato.com writes, Zirkzee’s price, at least on paper, would be a €40 million transfer fee, €15m in commissions, and then a salary of €4m per season for five years. Due to amortisation, this works out at around €15m net per season over his contract.
For Morata, the deal is much sweeter. A deal will cost around €13m, once again due to his release clause, and a four-year contract – worth €5.5m per season – is on the table. Once again, using amortisation, it works out at around €8.75m per season.
With Zirkzee, whilst you get a younger player, there is much more of a risk, and the cost is almost double.