Joshua Zirkzee will fly into Manchester on Thursday evening ahead of a medical tomorrow, after United reached an agreement with Bologna.

The 23-year-old is expected to become the club’s first signing of the summer after he was granted permission to fly to Manchester following the conclusion of the Netherlands’ Euro 2024 campaign on Wednesday night, when they were defeated 2-1 by England in the semifinals.

 Zirkzee’s Bologna contract included a €40 million (£34 million) release clause, but United agreed to pay €42.5 million over three years. If they had chosen to use the release clause, they would have had to pay in full.

The former Bayern Munich teenager will sign a five-year contract at Old Trafford, with the option for one additional year.

 United had made signing a forward a top priority this summer, with Anthony Martial departing the club at the end of his contract and Rasmus Hojlund the only acknowledged senior striker in the team.

Zirkzee joined Bayern Munich’s development system from Feyenoord in 2017 and has four goals in 17 first-team appearances in Bavaria. He had loan spells at Parma and Anderlecht, and his excellent season in Belgium in 2021/22 earned him a move to Bologna.

 He scored 11 goals in 34 league games for Bologna last season, helping them qualify for the Champions League, and he made his international debut for the Netherlands in the Euro 2024 semi-finals.