03 May 2024 , 07:40
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Inter Milan vice-president Javier Zanetti has suggested the club will try and sign Arsenal target Joshua Zirkzee this summer, admitting he "would be useful to any great team".
Zirkzee, 22, has impressed for Bologna this season, scoring 11 goals and adding five assists in 32 Serie A appearances as they close in on Champions League qualification for the first time.
The former Bayern Munich forward is being monitored by Arsenal ahead of the summer transfer window, with Mikel Arteta eager to add another top-class centre forward to his squad. Reports in Italy last week claimed the Gunners were in talks with his agent, Kia Joorabchian, over a proposed move.
Arsenal are said to be ready to offer a five-year contract and an annual salary of £5million. This is in addition to the £51.6m the Gunners would pay to Bologna for his services.
However, the Gunners are set to face hefty competition to sign him this summer. Inter, who have already been crowned Serie A champions, are eyeing up the talented Dutch striker.
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Vice-president and former right-back Zanetti has hinted Inter are lining up a swoop for Zirkzee. When asked about a potential move, the Argentine told Radio TV Serie A: "Zirkzee is a great champion.
"We are talking about a young, talented, intelligent, physically very strong player. Someone like that would be useful to any great team aiming for important goals.
"Let’s see... if the opportunity arises we can think about it. With Zirkzee, Lautaro [Martinez] and [Marcus] Thuram we would have a young and strong attack. They would give us peace of mind."
Joshua Zirkzee could leave Bologna this summer (Getty Images)Bologna boss Thiago Motta has done an excellent job to turn Zirkzee into one of the most sought-after strikers in Europe after he scored just twice during his debut season. And Motta's agent Dario Canovi has praised the former midfielder for how much he has improved Zirkzee.
He told MilanNews: "He has undoubtedly improved him, but I wouldn't even need to say it because the numbers before this year speak for themselves but above all the fact that the player himself recognised it.
"After [Marko] Arnautovic left, Thiago invested him with a great responsibility and made him grow faster. And when you play all the time, you gain experience."
Amid links with a move to both AC Milan and Inter Milan, Canovi added: "He is certainly ready for a great team. And he still has room for improvement. Price? The price is set by the market, so if there are clubs willing to pay a lot, then it’s worth it. Otherwise his value will be that of the highest bidder. As long as Bologna is willing to sell him."
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