What will Zirkzee bring to United?
Manchester United fans are having to wait for the opportunity to see Joshua Zirkzee play in the red shirt for the first time.
The Netherlands international competed at Euro 2024 with his country and has been due a break to recharge the batteries.
However, our signing from Bologna is already at Carrington and growing accustomed to his new surroundings, as he works on his fitness in preparation for the 2024/25 campaign.
While the squad continues on Tour 2024, presented by Snapdragon, in the United States, the Dutchman will be ensuring he is ready when called upon, with the Community Shield against Manchester City at Wembley the first game back on these shores.
Zirzkee's first day at Carrington
TRAINING HIGHLIGHTS | Go behind the scenes on Zirkzee's first day, feat. Malacia and McClaren...
So if supporters have been left wondering what Zirkzee will bring to Erik ten Hag's team, Opta have supplied us with a breakdown of his excellent performances in Serie A last term.
What is clear is the 23-year-old is a player who tries to make things happen as he usually has an impact in the final third. Bologna finished fifth in Serie A to clinch a spot in the upcoming UEFA Champions League and the lively attacker was a key influence in Thiago Motta's impressive team, before the coach also left, to join Juventus this summer.
Zirkzee's 86 shots in the league were by far the most for Bologna, some 26 clear of the next best in Lewis Ferguson, and his tally of 11 goals (sealing the club's top-scorer accolade) and five assists from 34 outings showed the progress in his game since joining the Italian side in 2022.
Only AC Milan loanee Alexis Saelemaekers (44) created more chances for the Rossoblu than the United new boy (43), and there is the expectation that his arrival will help carve out many opportunities for his fellow forwards at Old Trafford. Indeed, each of these 44 chances registered came from open play, while Belgium international Saelemaekers's figure drops to 31 when this is taken into account.
Yet it would be wrong to underestimate his threat at the sharp end of the pitch. No Bologna player touched the ball inside the box anywhere near as much as he did, logging 151 of these, ahead of second-placed Ferguson on 85. The Dutchman was undoubtedly the main man when posing danger for the opposition and operating furthest up the pitch.
Opta have also compared the former Bayern Munich man's stats last term with his peers throughout Serie A, and this will only add to the excitement over what he can add to Ten Hag's team.
Zirkzee gets stuck in
GallerySee exclusive images of Joshua's first working day at Carrington.