AC Milan look set to battle with Juventus for the signing of Joshua Zirkzee this summer, a report claims, and there will be a key factor that influences where he ends up.
According to this morning’s edition of Corriere dello Sport (via PianetaMilan), Zirkzee is a target for both Milan and Juventus ahead of the summer window but they have very different strategies in mind.
Milan have watched him live several times, with technical director Geoffrey Moncada going to scout him, and it is he who would enter into negotiations with Bologna.
Juventus, on the other hand, would go through Bayern Munich. Juve director Cristiano Giuntoli has spoken with Bayern about the possibility of the Germans using their buy-back clause, and then the Bianconeri would agree a fee with them.
Bayern Munich will pocket 35% of any capital gain that Bologna make in the event of the striker’s sale, but they can also bring him back to Bavaria for €40m and they reserve the possibility of matching bids from other clubs.
Therefore, it seems as though Milan and Juve could only got for Zirkzee if Bayern were to step aside and declare they are not interested. Then, there is another great unknown in the story and it is linked to Thiago Motta’s future.
His contract with Bologna will expire at the end of the season and there are those who are ready to bet that he will take the Dutchman with him on his next adventure. Perhaps not surprisingly, the clubs reported to be on the trail of Thiago Motta – at least in Serie A – are Milan and Juventus.
I hope Milan can beat Juventus to Motta, Zirkzee and Ferguson. We need them next season including a DM and CB.