Manchester United second signing now expected “next week” after Joshua Zirkzee confirmation

Manchester United could secure a second signing “next week” following confirmation that Joshua Zirkzee will sign for Erik ten Hag’s team this summer.

Manchester United are expected to make Joshua Zirkzee the first signing under the new INEOS era at Old Trafford following multiple reports confirming that the Dutch striker will sign for Erik ten Hag‘s squad this summer.

It is reported that the player will fly to Manchester on Thursday evening ahead of completing a medical on Friday, where he will sign his official documents and become the first player to sign for the club since Sir Jim Ratcliffe acquired 27.7%.

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Zirkzee will sign a five-year deal worth around £ 96,000 a week. The striker is expected to compete with Rasmus Højlund up front while also providing support across the front line.

However, with the 2024 European Championships coming to a close with England set to play Spain in the final, United are seriously getting down to business in the transfer market and could close a second signing next week.

According to German transfer expert Christian Falk, Manchester United have officially started negotiations with Bayern Munich for 24-year-old centre-back Matthijs de Ligt.

The report states that an agreement is expected to be made as early as next week with the clubs no longer far apart in their respective ideas surrounding the transfer fee.

Bayern is said to be demanding around £42 million with add-ons, while United will likely hope to reduce this fee to around £38 million.

With Zirkzee coming through the Carrington doors imminently and De Ligt likely to follow, Ten Hag is starting to build solid foundations to take United further than he already has, having won the Carabao Cup and FA Cup in his opening two seasons as Old Trafford manager.

“We won an FA Cup and Carabao Cup, but we have high expectations, and we have to raise our standards,” the Dutch manager recently told club media.

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