Change of manager could hurt Arsenal in transfer bid for hotshot Joshua Zirkzee
James BAOUCH
Arsenal may have to compete with Juventus for the services of Bologna centre-forward Joshua Zirkzee this summer, according to a bit of two-plus-two thinking in the Italian press.
Thiago Motta is considered a forerunner for the Juventus manager’s job if Max Allegri opts to leave the club for a second time this summer – a distinct possibility, according to reports coming out of Italy.
Motta is, of course, currently Zirkzee’s gaffer at Bologna – so the reasoning is that if the manager makes the move to Turin, he may badger Juve into making a bid of their own for Zirkzee.
Thiago Motta has Bologna on track for their first ever Champions League qualification (Image credit: Alamy)
Big-man striker Zirkzee has been a big part of Bologna’s successes this season, claiming 11 goals and five assists in his 33 Serie A outings.
That led to reports in January that Arsenal were weighing up a bid for Zirkzee’s services to help fill a particular target man role in the squad that has been more or less vacant since Olivier Giroud left for Chelsea in 2018.
Motta is yet to make a decision over his future despite his current contract set to run out next month.
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With just three games to go and a four-point advantage over fifth-placed Roma, Bologna are on course to celebrate their best league finish since 1967 and clinch a Champions League place.
They could yet overtake Juventus to finish third, with the Bianconeri just two points ahead of them; the two sides will go head to head in the penultimate game of the season.
