Why do Manchester United want Joshua Zirkzee?

Welcome to The Athletic FC's KZbin channel, where best-in-class journalism meets video.
Every transfer window, every team everywhere needs a new striker to bring in the goals. But why are Manchester United looking at Joshua Zirkzee from Bologna? Why is Dominic Calvert-Lewin attracting attention despite his injury issues? Why are Chelsea still looking for more players?
Joe Devine, JJ Bull and Jon Mackenzie dig into The Athletic's DealSheet, your weekly guide to what is happening in the summer transfer window, to find out.
Find more transfer analysis you can trust from David Ornstein and other journalists here in The Athletic's DealSheet:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/5586...
#manchesterunited #chelsea #premierleague
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Chapters:
00:00 Intro
01:14 Why do Man Utd want Zirkzee?
09:12 Why is Dominic Calvert-Lewin attracting attention?
16:53 Chelsea's Striker Search
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Additional footage sourced from AP Newsroom

[@TheAthleticFC]

What striker should your club buy this season? 👇

[@UnbiasedBayernFan]

Not categorically a striker, but sell Sané or Coman and get Nico Williams for around 60m euros

[@youngmoneylover6260]

none, we have erling haaland

[@legrange1977]

ROOOOOOOONNEEEEEEEEEYYY

[@willyum3920]

ALL of them so noone else can have one

[@-_-DatDude]

We(Man Utd) should be going for experienced strikers who have low total shots per 90(under 3) and a high non-penalty goal scoring prowess. Someone like Dovbyk or Sørloth would fit the billing. Our wingers don't pass the ball enough.

[@mahbluebird]

Joe Devine looks a little bit like if you made Pochettino really really British

[@momomichael2262]

I can't unsee this

[@lewisblackwiththenicehair]

Pint Potsettino

[@Goozero1]

Maurice Posher-Tinneau

[@Bazovkin]

аххахахахахахахаххахаха

[@Bazovkin]

@@Goozero1 ))))))))))))

[@mojojojo6525]

The trio is back More content please

[@r4lfxd]

I am baffled by the Calvert-Lewin links. This season he has looked more fit for the Championship and he is made of glass.

[@Ayah_Mia]

Newcastle under Howe is definitely at his level. Unless Newcastle hire a proper intercontinental well-known manager.

[@InesVandehoof]

Giroud and DCL should never be mentioned in the same sentence

[@TurtleFPL]

JJ's dignity shirt is just superb

[@klnv6564]

DCL goes for 30 lira if he's not English

[@TheIrishFoley]

Wtf is lira

[@willywonka7812]

A currency. Well, not that current​@@TheIrishFoley

[@shishsuke]

He would go for that amount if he was being transferred for any other reason than cooking the books lol

[@stevenlongan5791]

Okay, Who else saw the "Points are bad" Euros graphic?! You can't flash that up and then not tell us how you got those scores! Where's the theme song?!

[@donukb]

You'll find daily Points Are Bad score updates on Joe's Twitter.

[@pro-xinyang]

Damn tifo ❤ back to back like _Drake_ 😂

[@Frazzled02]

Back to Back? I like that record

[@hilarytinomiti]

@@Frazzled02imma get back to that, for the record.

[@sanketkhandagale7828]

We want these type of content…. Not that corporate meeting type

[@coleyboy1921]

I think a Zirksee lineup would be crazy, Garnacho or Rashford left whoever is on form, bruno right where he's been consitently amazing, and mctominay crashing. That would be a lineup absolutely full of goals and VERY solid in defense.

[@SkullSnax]

The bit that excites me about Zirkzee is he's the kind of striker United should have got last summer. They had a quite successful attacking unit based on Weghorst or Martial dropping in to receive the ball, making gaps in the backline and then Martinez/Shaw/Eriksen/Bruno playing "up, back and through" off Weghorst to Rashford. Weghorst and Martial averaged about 2 shots per 90 that season, while the players around them all got double or more each. Then Weghorst's loan ends, they go for Kane but he's too expensive, and instead of finding somebody (like Zirkzee) who can play a similar creative forward role, they get Hojlund who just wants to score goals. The whole balance of the frontline is off because everyone wants to run behind, nobody wants to drop and create space. It takes Hojlund about 6 months to figure out that positioning, but in those 6 months United finish bottom of their Champions League group, well out of the top 4 race and Rashford's confidence is obliterated. I said at the time, you either bet on Hojlund and rebuild the frontline for him, you get rid of Hojlund and find somebody more like Weghorst, or you be patient while Ten Hag coaches his striker to play a way he's not used to. Looks like they've gone for option C, but they're not making the same mistake in who they buy as a backup/alternative. Get somebody who fits the system better and United will score more goals than getting an elite striker who won't get any service.

[@Sabu113]

United bottomed out of CL because Onana was horrific. Hound got the goals then.

[@paingainmayn]

The system you're talking about wasn't successful at all! United's goal difference was shocking last year as well. Something is fundamentally wrong with the attacking setup under Ten Hag.

[@danecadette4714]

Exactly. HOJLUND Scored goals in the group stage.​@@Sabu113

[@spyculture]

I enjoyed the shoutout for Nándor Hidegkuti

[@RoadsideRoamer]

Tifo making Game Changer/Dropout references is the most joy I've felt in my entire life, probably.

[@zanamandaza]

Zirkzee sounds a lot like Martial

[@JamailvanWestering]

Unlike Martial, Zirkzee had to work harder to where he has gotten

[@Mopark25]

​@@JamailvanWesteringWhat does that even mean?

[@jiangpingchai24]

Rooney

[@benvanderwall2946]

These strikers would be real Gamechangers 😉

[@Chris-zs6fd]

I THOUGHT I WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO NOTICED!!!

[@declanfrew6958]

I love watching these videos at bed time, Jon puts me to sleep (in the nicest way possible)

[@DeanHenderson]

About DCL, what no one mentions is that it was Duncan Ferguson playing a 4-4-2 that got him playing his best. Then when Ancelotti came in he gradually moved away from 4-4-2 and this coincided with his gradual drop off in form before the disastrous appointment of Rafa and the beginning of his injury problems (go figure). It is frustrating to me that Dyche loves a 4-4-2 but has been loathe to play it.

[@lukew6725]

Loving the more frequent videos, keep it up! 👍

[@Bleech606]

"You can still sell them even though he will have played for Man United after that point" 😆

[@Creees]

Zirkzee gets more touches because Italian league has a different style. Theres more flow. Epl has become a bit boring and just passing between goalkeeper and defenders

[@daireguiney464]

Joe's really looking great recently, fair play brother 👏

[@jesusflores5952]

what device do you guys use to show the players on the screen i would like to get one

[@QUSAI1996_]

Welcome back

[@jeromeoprescod4722]

This was a frustrating watch normally i come away informed but i find myself disgreeing with bruno profile his best position is shadow stt or crashing the box u want bruno as high as possible and being the player to finish the action or to pass to the player to finish the action. Zirkee and bruno make perfect sense and u dont need move players <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="430">7:10</a> out of position. Think where bruno position was under ole and playing upfront with martial

[@ivankut]

Would love to see a couple episodes where you just play whatever is on those video cassettes behind Joe.

[@rulifaller8474]

Zirkzee is a very interesting case. He has not been in the Dutch squad until now, and he was injured at the end of the Bologna season and I’ll during the Euros. Plus Koeman is obviously a conservative coach who would hesitate to play a player with a different profile like Zirkzee. But all the noise from the camp and the media is that he is making a great impression in training unlike some of the other bench players. So it would be really fun to see him in the next round. I am not sure that going to United would be a good decision for him or Ten Hag. Probably going to a top club in Italywould suit him more, obviously joining Motta at Juve would make sense. And if he does go to England, the United mess and Ten Hag staying power does not look great.

[@TheOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO]

Hojlund got 10 goals with no service. Imagine if Rashford or Antony could actually get the ball to him.

[@87frankson]

If Ten Hag can transform Zirkzee in a prolific striker like Tadic, it will be a huge succes. Hojlunds linkup play is bang average, poor. The other forwards of Man Utd also lack teamplay and vision, so I'm pretty excited.

[@ne48largekid17]

I like the idea of keeping a back 3 of shaw, Martinez and Maguire especially if it lets Martinez invert at times

[@cameronjones8641]

We don't have any obvious wing backs. Square pegs in round holes.

[@erdnasiul87]

So... Man Utd wants an unproven goal scorer/striker that will make their best players change positions? Brillant

[@user-uw3rs7zw7c]

Like the tactical analysis of Chelsea ✔️

[@peppathebeast7490]

How are Chelsea's attacking recruitment plans affected by the change in their managerial approach?

[@salah-eddineeltousy552]

El Kaabi Olympiacos, scored 5 past Aston villa in two games, should surely get a big team

[@5678hgvhjkjnbnm]

Idk how you could work with Joe and actually do an effective days work....

[@kingsleyewool3618]

We can do more of the 4-2-4 more often

[@tjr2109]

I have that t-shirt also. Dignity Luanne. We didn't all go to Gudger university.

[@batuksri]

Good plan to sign Dutch players. They are out of Euro so will be well rested.

[@damiandamico4715]

The strikers Man United and Newcastle want this summer and the strikers that Chelsea want this week. They will be bored of them come January and want a new one.

[@weechinjansonchua8061]

It’s like Alen Boksic and Davor Suker of Croatia.

[@HungryWinnebago]

Who does the camera work for these guys? They are always on point.

[@simonhdfifa1685]

Michael Bay

[@simonhdfifa1685]

The holy trio oh yeah baby

[@benbobbb]

I’m excited to talk about strikers… and transfers

[@fugaziishime]

Marc Guiu is gonna be great for chelsea.

[@zaidabrahams2005]

Scared me with that intro sounding like United are linked with DCL

[@Wedelinskyj]

Oh please Zirkzee don't go to Man U. As a dutch fan I can't see a talent like this go to waste.

[@magnusandersen9669]

Make a video about Ugarte to man utd pls

[@pixelnoob1]

Gamechanger reference on JJ's intro?

[@pixelnoob1]

And Jon's!! Love it

[@benvanderwall2946]

It was all of them, Joe's was a Dropout reference too!

[@pixelnoob1]

​@@benvanderwall2946 Niiice didn't notice the Brennan quote!

[@tee_viii]

Actually I believe the first false 9 was Mathiaas Sindelaar for Austria in the 1930s 😅😅

[@jonbolton491]

He said modern. Still, you must be a football encyclopaedia.

[@geordiedog1749]

DC-L is a risk. But then if Eddie Howes magic works it could be one of those times I have to pretend I said something completely different.

[@dY5FUNCT10N4L]

IT'S DIGNITY LOUANNE!!!

[@jeromeoprescod4722]

The fact he didnt no totti game is a concern of creditable how old is this guy? <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="220">3:40</a>

[@LarryLoveSosa69]

Please bring back sensible transfers

[@SkyFootballPlus]

Joshua Zirkzee's playing style does not seem suitable for the premerleague. There, players are required to process faster and stronger

[@LeDoomed]

Is there any news on where Ivan Toney is going?

[@MS-sy8ls]

Bit of a gamble…

[@hdtube7]

When will sensible transfers be back

[@brookwakie3406]

Looks like they have learned their lesson making up stories about ETH Getting the sack and pushing for that outcome now they have to put disclaimers everytime 😂😂

[@Mario10211]

Chelsea need a stand-alone Podcast, please do it 💙

[@v2huhroon]

The athletic has one! U don’t have to be subscribed to the athletic either it’s called straight outta cobham

[@Mario10211]

@@v2huhroon really! How can i hear it?

[@elixir8417]

@@Mario10211 basically anywhere that you listen to music e.g. Spotify

[@v2huhroon]

@@Mario10211 its on the podcast app for iphone or spotify/ anwhere that has podcasts!

[@paingainmayn]

Lol nobody is paying 30-40 mill for DCL.

[@sersarsor]

this is such a bad transfer choice, as an arsenal fan i hope man utd get him

[@barrygreene007]

Mark Goldbridge has it out for these hipsters 😂

[@TheDukeWin]

United playing a back 3, mark my words

[@lambert8915]

Van Nistlerooy 🎉

[@EvieWillNotDie]

"many fine journalists" they exist?

[@Nimreitz]

Read your copy of Inverting the Pyramid again, Joe! Sindelar was the first false 9!

[@ImmortalMachine]

Lets buy a striker who doesn't score goals. What?

[@C0WB0Yv]

Why get rid of Martial to buy the English version of him.. Calvert Lewin is a waste of time.

[@ondank]

Chelsea want a striker? So nothing has changed in a decade then?

[@MS-sy8ls]

DCL is injury prone and bang average

[@harryt2322]

DCL can barely stay fit for 10 games a season, never mind hit 10 league goals

[@walterdacruz9567]

So. Man United wants a striker who does everything well but doesn't score goals. 😂 Buy a winger then.

[@mura6093]

Points are bad !!!

[@moojito3223]

JJ's laptop half hanging off the desk is stressing me out.

[@_surreal99]

'Half' is an exaggeration

[@Birdy8441]

Are we selling

[@sld1776]

United: why have one forward who doesn't score when you can have two?

[@cameronjones8641]

😂😂😂👌🏼 To be fair I think if any striker had Garnacho and Rashford either side, they wouldn't score much either. They are utterly selfish, barely pass to him and 9 times out of 10 dribble into nothing or shoot. At one point last year, Antony had passed to Hojland twice in 5.5 hours of football together😂. Hojland actually scored highet than his XG.

[@Mopark25]

Hojlund scores plenty, he's just had no service and needed time to settle into the league.

[@oscarmalaakgosi2665]

Arsenal?

[@user-nd3ks4mi7b]

Did Jon just say that Bruno Fernandes isnt a box crasher? Did he start watching him last season? If anything, Zirkzee will bring Bruno's output back to pre 21-22 levels.

[@trevie7622]

DCL is just terrible. I really don't know what these folks are on about

[@kanameitsuki8130]

Phenomenal way to end a podcast.

[@eddowling1937]

Last thing United need is a striker who drops deep who doesn’t score that much 🙈

[@sherradgordon]

Mason Mount needs company and I medical care room

[@ne48largekid17]

XG per 90 is useless… if I play one PL game and score a goal I have the best xg per 90 in the league

[@jamito200]

No you don’t mate. And what would you prefer - total xG? That would not take into account total minutes played

[@RL-]

Not really. If it takes you 18 shots to score that goal, you have the worst average in the league.

[@francisgift2491]

I know somethings 😂😂😂

[@nyashamambo787]

Zirkzee is a Rooney

[@Doodoofart725]

I dont care, Euros are happening

[@seanbayard2012]

Is this sensible transfers replacement 🫠