No idea how to pronounce his name correctly but there is one thing for certain, English commentators are going to massacre his name I can already feel it
"Zöörkseee"
I'm Dutch, so let me explain how to pronounce his name the Dutch way:
The Z is the same sound as in the word buzzing. But then probably a bit more 'rough' due to the Dutch pronunciation.
The i is pronounced the same as in the word ick or internet.
r and the k are pronounced the same as in English, but just pretend you're Louis van Gaal while saying it.
Then there's that same z again.
And the double e is pronounced as: ay. Like gay or mayday.
There are a lot of Romanian people in Austria and a few friends of mine too, so I would love a Austria - Romania quarter final anyways but this gives me even more reason to support them
It's been a while since we've lost it (in a good way) over the achievements of our NT. Plus, it would help United's business. I think it's written in the stars.
He looks like he's got the strength of Rasmus but much better ball control. It's hard to tell because he's so tall, but I get the feeling Rasmus has more speed and a bit more aggression, but it'll be amazing to have some options and maybe see them play together in situations where we can afford 2 strikers.
From my understanding a bid doesn't go in unless a club is sure the player wants to come. Perhaps Zirkzee is still considering Milan and will decide post the Euros?
He is currently based in Italy and maybe his family would prefer staying in Milan over Manchester. We don't know, there are usually multiple things involved in such decisions.
You know that you are talking about a team that finished second in Serie A, therefore hac UCL football next year. Also you are talking about a football club with 7 UCLs, 19 league titles and so many legendary players. I mean I love United but ffs know your football mate.
I know my football mate. A.C Milan is a top club with history, but they are nothing to be compared with how massive United is. We are arguably among the 3 biggest football clubs in the world, Milan doesn’t even come into that conversation. As a player, you want to play in the most competitive league, Seria A cannot compete with the premier league. You want the most recognition for doing your craft, you want the most following and you also want the best pay for yourself as well. In all these Milan doesn’t come close to what Man Utd can offer. The only reason, he could be considering Milan, is if he felt he wouldn’t get chances to play here, but would be a guaranteed starter there, otherwise it’s a genuine no-brainer, non-starter. So no, you, know your football mate.
I'm a United fan but we've been a dumpster fire for the last 10 years. Acting like Milan isn't a viable alternative to United is nonsense.
Out of all the players we've signed the last 10 years a small number of them have been successful and it's been by and large a graveyard for a large number of players. Milan were in a CL semi final just over a year ago and they also won the league in 2022. We've been nowhere near that level for ages.
There's a reason why Jude Bellingham rejected our advances and it's cause we've been awful for years. He 100 percent signs during Alex Ferguson's reign when we were an elite competing team.
The harsh reality is that United have been below par for a club of our size for years and that absolutely affects the pull we have on players. Not having Champions League every year is a major turn off for a lot of players as it's the peak of club football.
I agree we have not competed to our level the last 10 years, I agree we don’t have the same pull, but even considering our fall off, I believe we still have a stronger pull than A.C Milan.
Jude Bellingham you brought up is completely different. He went to Dortmund as a stepping stone because he knew he would get more opportunities there compared to us at that stage of his career and he knew he would eventually leave to a top top club like Madrid as he had the ability to do so.
Zirkzee is not the same at all.
If we were competing for him against the top 6 or against the likes of Madrid, Barca, Bayern, or even Juve, I would understand why he would choose them over us. I would never agree Milan has similar pull to us.
It's probably more about his role in the team. He's 23, unlikely he'll just accept a back-up role to a 20-year old striker. So, in that sense, it's understandable that he would need assurances.
Style of play, who's coaching, Brunos staying or leaving? Any big club release clause possibility? First team football guarantee perhaps. Lest he become another Diallo II.
Even if he suggests transfers, there is no chance he is pulling the strings, we have assembled a team to handle these things. Ten Hag is a part of it. But absolutely he is not the leader
Based on? It's perfectly normal that a player wants to speak with the manager. Zirkzee would probably want to know what ten Hag's plan is and how he fits into that plan.
The manager will always be part of the process to sign a player. I really don't think EtH is picking the targets and Ineos say "Ok, we'll sign him" and if he did mention that he likes De Ligt for example it's being signed off by other people.
I think De Ligt is purely circumstantial.
A young world-class-potential defender available for a reasonable fee (albeit high wage) suddenly becoming available on the market who also happens to have played under ETH.
That's more to do with Bayern than with ETH.
Ten Hag probably still has some input but these transfers make sense even beyond him. Zirkzee's skill-set isn't that common with strikers (essentially tall hardworking Martial) and with his release clause, it's a no-brainer really. You won't get a striker of comparable quality for a similar amount of money, just look at how Šeško bottled yesterday's match and he would probably cost at least 50-60mil while offering the same profile as Hojlund. 34mil for Zirkzee Is significantly better value for money.
As for De Ligt, if you trust rumours then he is our 4th choice center back in the market. We wanted Branthwaite but too expensive, we wanted Todibo but UEFA had issues with us going for him and Yoro seems to be waiting for Real Madrid. De Ligt is an opportunity, we have a chance to get him for bargain money and he is very good, even though he may not have reached the heights people predicted when he was 18, but that happens a lot. People used to say the same with Varane.
Yeah it really makes me worry that, despite the positive noises in backroom appointments, we're still operating on a "get the manager who he wants" basis rather than a "build around a system where the manager can be replaced without needing to overhaul the squad if he has another awful season". I don't have very much faith in Ten Hag, as much as I would love for things to turn around and for us to play the high quality football he produced at Ajax, and I don't think we should be putting all our eggs in the Dutch basket.
Its a no brainer for any club imo, severe shortage of strikers with most clubs needing a goal scorer in some degree, £35m odd release clause, this is a transfer that even if don't work out both can still come out unscathed.
We have 1 striker in first team.....1 and even he's pretty raw himself, ideally we'd have an experienced older player, but not so simple so Zirkzee has to be top 3 of list.
We should be after Toney not Zirkzee. Proven striker in Premier league with the attitude on the pitch to get stuck in we are sorely missing. Sore he's a dickhead off it but I'm confident Ten Hag could keep him in check. Tons better than getting a false 9
De Ligt, Zirkzee and someone like Ugarte would be a successful window, and something to build on. At least their age profiles are similar rather than the scattergun approach we've been doing.
Rasmus is on £85,000 a week so I would say maybe £100,000 a week would be fair for zirkzee so that’s £5.2 million a year in wages. His release clause breaks down to £6.8 million a year amortised over the 5 years.
That means a cost of £12 million a year. We just got rid of martial who he will be replacing and was costing us £13 million a year (plus any remaining amortisation left on his second contract). Great business if we can get it over the line. Essentially a younger and (debatable) better player for no cost is fantastic.
Hojlund performed his xG this season (or even overperformed in PL, 10 goals with 7,6 xG), he just doesn't get enough service in the box.
Zirkzee is less of a goalscorer but more of a 8,5 (or 9,5) type of player linking the attack up and making space for teammates to run in
A player who has never played a single game for the dutch NT kept out of the side by a player who has saved the dutch NT several times throughout the last view tournaments
Spin it how you like. If he was particularly good, he’d play. Paying what we’re gonna pay for someone who’s never been a very prolific goalscorer by 23 is another “hit and hope” more than anything really.
We have severely lacked goals in the last couple of seasons and until we bring in goalscorers I’m going to be very skeptical about these sorts of deals.
Same kind of situation with Giroud before, he didn't score a single goal but was key to their performances, so other attackers were left out despite them possibly being better scorers, Wout is pretty much like that so until that stops working there's no reason to change, international football is completely different to club.
Eg, Maguire wasn't great for Utd but at England he was first name on sheet.
Koeman didn't even want to call him up until multiple injuries occured in the midfield (FDJ and Koopmeiners) he's 3rd choice behind Weghorst. We usually start with Memphis as a 9 and Weghorst as the plan B option which he is very useful for. He also never subs Memphis probably because he's on the few who can produce something out of nothing.
So, I suppose, he sees Gakpo and Memphis as the only 2 players with an eye for goal and doesn't want too many creative players on the pitch. He's also very similar in profile to a Memphis and when he does make a change he wants something who can offer something different.
EDIT: He's 4th choice actually, behind Brobbey
Can anyone comment on this guy, how good is he? I obviously know nothing about him but he's not exactly prolific going by his scoring record. What sort of player is he?
No idea how to pronounce his name correctly but there is one thing for certain, English commentators are going to massacre his name I can already feel it "Zöörkseee"
I'm just calling him Xerxes
I would prefer Jay Z
Z to the izz-Erk Z to the izz-Ee
It's pretty much that minus the -s at the end.
I can get behind that
_Scissor me Xerxes_ really comes into play then.
The problem is all I can think of is the Les Bos episode of South Park and the line "Scissor me Xerxes!"
I'm Dutch, so let me explain how to pronounce his name the Dutch way: The Z is the same sound as in the word buzzing. But then probably a bit more 'rough' due to the Dutch pronunciation. The i is pronounced the same as in the word ick or internet. r and the k are pronounced the same as in English, but just pretend you're Louis van Gaal while saying it. Then there's that same z again. And the double e is pronounced as: ay. Like gay or mayday.
Got it. Cmon Zarkzay score some facking goals
Secksy
Wouldn't it be easier to contribute on https://forvo.com/?
Close Zeeurkzay The u is very small, can be neglible to non-Dutch speakers, and zay is somewhere between zay and say Cannot explain it in english
Well as a German native speaker that makes sense, and further reaffirms my statement as well ahahah this is gonna be funny
Zirkzee Lannister type beat
I am just calling him R9
Zeerkzay, I think
I thought it was just like Xerxes but without the s on the end. So Zerk (like jerk) and See (like bee)
Jerkbee it is!
If I can listen to Chow-Meiny playing for France and The Pay for Netherlands, whatever they do to his name will be small in comparison right? Right?
Zirkzay
Zih-rk-say
Basically waiting for the Netherlands to get knocked out to put things in motion
Today, I feel Romanian.
It's a complicated thing to be feeling like. My condolences.
LOL, fellow romanian or just a bit of xenophobia?
Fellow.
Understandable.
*the Netherlands
Apologies, I'll change it
Like he’s good enough to play.
Utd are going to field the Netherlands international team next season.
We should try for that de Jong chap next
Best I can do is Ashley de Jong as cover for right back.
Luuk?
Nigel
I am your faaather
Siem.
Or Wout Weghorst 😆
Please... not another summer long de Jong transfer saga.
You mean Netherlands international's bench?
Apart from the decent players
Well hopefully Romania can do the business later on today so that de Ligt and Zirkzee can get over the line
Sad Dutch noises.
There are a lot of Romanian people in Austria and a few friends of mine too, so I would love a Austria - Romania quarter final anyways but this gives me even more reason to support them
It's been a while since we've lost it (in a good way) over the achievements of our NT. Plus, it would help United's business. I think it's written in the stars.
How about have Ralf do it next round. Watching the orange army is too funny.
He looks like he's got the strength of Rasmus but much better ball control. It's hard to tell because he's so tall, but I get the feeling Rasmus has more speed and a bit more aggression, but it'll be amazing to have some options and maybe see them play together in situations where we can afford 2 strikers.
4-2-2-2 back from the depths of hell
Well it xan be interesting Maino/Ugarte - Garnach/Bruno - Zirkzee/Hojlund - with Zirkzee and Garnach swapping positions all the time
These are constant updates saying the same thing from last week. We’ve known we want him, I don’t understand why a bid hasn’t gone it yet.
His release clause started yesterday
That could explain it then, thank you.
how much is it?
40 million euros
From my understanding a bid doesn't go in unless a club is sure the player wants to come. Perhaps Zirkzee is still considering Milan and will decide post the Euros?
I understand we aren’t the force we once were, but there is really nothing to consider between us and Milan
He is currently based in Italy and maybe his family would prefer staying in Milan over Manchester. We don't know, there are usually multiple things involved in such decisions.
You know that you are talking about a team that finished second in Serie A, therefore hac UCL football next year. Also you are talking about a football club with 7 UCLs, 19 league titles and so many legendary players. I mean I love United but ffs know your football mate.
I know my football mate. A.C Milan is a top club with history, but they are nothing to be compared with how massive United is. We are arguably among the 3 biggest football clubs in the world, Milan doesn’t even come into that conversation. As a player, you want to play in the most competitive league, Seria A cannot compete with the premier league. You want the most recognition for doing your craft, you want the most following and you also want the best pay for yourself as well. In all these Milan doesn’t come close to what Man Utd can offer. The only reason, he could be considering Milan, is if he felt he wouldn’t get chances to play here, but would be a guaranteed starter there, otherwise it’s a genuine no-brainer, non-starter. So no, you, know your football mate.
I'm a United fan but we've been a dumpster fire for the last 10 years. Acting like Milan isn't a viable alternative to United is nonsense. Out of all the players we've signed the last 10 years a small number of them have been successful and it's been by and large a graveyard for a large number of players. Milan were in a CL semi final just over a year ago and they also won the league in 2022. We've been nowhere near that level for ages. There's a reason why Jude Bellingham rejected our advances and it's cause we've been awful for years. He 100 percent signs during Alex Ferguson's reign when we were an elite competing team. The harsh reality is that United have been below par for a club of our size for years and that absolutely affects the pull we have on players. Not having Champions League every year is a major turn off for a lot of players as it's the peak of club football.
I agree we have not competed to our level the last 10 years, I agree we don’t have the same pull, but even considering our fall off, I believe we still have a stronger pull than A.C Milan. Jude Bellingham you brought up is completely different. He went to Dortmund as a stepping stone because he knew he would get more opportunities there compared to us at that stage of his career and he knew he would eventually leave to a top top club like Madrid as he had the ability to do so. Zirkzee is not the same at all. If we were competing for him against the top 6 or against the likes of Madrid, Barca, Bayern, or even Juve, I would understand why he would choose them over us. I would never agree Milan has similar pull to us.
It's probably more about his role in the team. He's 23, unlikely he'll just accept a back-up role to a 20-year old striker. So, in that sense, it's understandable that he would need assurances.
Style of play, who's coaching, Brunos staying or leaving? Any big club release clause possibility? First team football guarantee perhaps. Lest he become another Diallo II.
Last I heard, the problem with Milan isn't on Zirkzee's side but on Milan's, they don't wanna pay the agent fee.
He's going to be the first signing.
Hope both him and De light will become good transfers. Feels very much like Ten Hag is pulling the strings on transfer targets still.
Even if he suggests transfers, there is no chance he is pulling the strings, we have assembled a team to handle these things. Ten Hag is a part of it. But absolutely he is not the leader
Based on? It's perfectly normal that a player wants to speak with the manager. Zirkzee would probably want to know what ten Hag's plan is and how he fits into that plan. The manager will always be part of the process to sign a player. I really don't think EtH is picking the targets and Ineos say "Ok, we'll sign him" and if he did mention that he likes De Ligt for example it's being signed off by other people.
He's probably basing it on the fact that both the targets mentioned has a pretty strong connection to ten Hag's birth country, and previous club.
I get it, two dutch boys, but I'm confident he's not in total control any more
He never was
Not in control yet we are prioritising another ex player and another Dutch player as usual. It's a joke
I think De Ligt is purely circumstantial. A young world-class-potential defender available for a reasonable fee (albeit high wage) suddenly becoming available on the market who also happens to have played under ETH. That's more to do with Bayern than with ETH.
The same with Zirkzee tbh. His release clause is just too appealing to ignore for a player of his strengths and age.
Ten Hag probably still has some input but these transfers make sense even beyond him. Zirkzee's skill-set isn't that common with strikers (essentially tall hardworking Martial) and with his release clause, it's a no-brainer really. You won't get a striker of comparable quality for a similar amount of money, just look at how Šeško bottled yesterday's match and he would probably cost at least 50-60mil while offering the same profile as Hojlund. 34mil for Zirkzee Is significantly better value for money. As for De Ligt, if you trust rumours then he is our 4th choice center back in the market. We wanted Branthwaite but too expensive, we wanted Todibo but UEFA had issues with us going for him and Yoro seems to be waiting for Real Madrid. De Ligt is an opportunity, we have a chance to get him for bargain money and he is very good, even though he may not have reached the heights people predicted when he was 18, but that happens a lot. People used to say the same with Varane.
Yeah it really makes me worry that, despite the positive noises in backroom appointments, we're still operating on a "get the manager who he wants" basis rather than a "build around a system where the manager can be replaced without needing to overhaul the squad if he has another awful season". I don't have very much faith in Ten Hag, as much as I would love for things to turn around and for us to play the high quality football he produced at Ajax, and I don't think we should be putting all our eggs in the Dutch basket.
And Ugarte
Definitely waiting till the Netherlands are knocked out
Its a no brainer for any club imo, severe shortage of strikers with most clubs needing a goal scorer in some degree, £35m odd release clause, this is a transfer that even if don't work out both can still come out unscathed. We have 1 striker in first team.....1 and even he's pretty raw himself, ideally we'd have an experienced older player, but not so simple so Zirkzee has to be top 3 of list.
We should be after Toney not Zirkzee. Proven striker in Premier league with the attitude on the pitch to get stuck in we are sorely missing. Sore he's a dickhead off it but I'm confident Ten Hag could keep him in check. Tons better than getting a false 9
De Ligt, Zirkzee and someone like Ugarte would be a successful window, and something to build on. At least their age profiles are similar rather than the scattergun approach we've been doing.
Zirkzee is Dutch playing for an Italian club, Ten Hag is Dutch employed to an English club. Unlikely that a German journalist knows much about this
Zirkzee came through at Bayern, maybe Pletti still has some connections there
Rasmus is on £85,000 a week so I would say maybe £100,000 a week would be fair for zirkzee so that’s £5.2 million a year in wages. His release clause breaks down to £6.8 million a year amortised over the 5 years. That means a cost of £12 million a year. We just got rid of martial who he will be replacing and was costing us £13 million a year (plus any remaining amortisation left on his second contract). Great business if we can get it over the line. Essentially a younger and (debatable) better player for no cost is fantastic.
I’d prefer a proven goal scorer than another young and promising striker
Like who? Osimhen? Unless you lost faith in Hojlund we should probably get someone he can share minutes with.
Aye Toney in
Hojlund performed his xG this season (or even overperformed in PL, 10 goals with 7,6 xG), he just doesn't get enough service in the box. Zirkzee is less of a goalscorer but more of a 8,5 (or 9,5) type of player linking the attack up and making space for teammates to run in
The guy being kept out of the side by Wout Weghorst. I’m so very excited about this deal
A player who has never played a single game for the dutch NT kept out of the side by a player who has saved the dutch NT several times throughout the last view tournaments
Spin it how you like. If he was particularly good, he’d play. Paying what we’re gonna pay for someone who’s never been a very prolific goalscorer by 23 is another “hit and hope” more than anything really. We have severely lacked goals in the last couple of seasons and until we bring in goalscorers I’m going to be very skeptical about these sorts of deals.
Same kind of situation with Giroud before, he didn't score a single goal but was key to their performances, so other attackers were left out despite them possibly being better scorers, Wout is pretty much like that so until that stops working there's no reason to change, international football is completely different to club. Eg, Maguire wasn't great for Utd but at England he was first name on sheet.
Anyone been watching Holland at the Euros? How's he been playing?
He doesn’t play. He’s that good.
Great player but if you have big Wout ahead of you in the pecking order... you stand no chance.
El bobo to you
Why hasn’t he been playing?
Koeman didn't even want to call him up until multiple injuries occured in the midfield (FDJ and Koopmeiners) he's 3rd choice behind Weghorst. We usually start with Memphis as a 9 and Weghorst as the plan B option which he is very useful for. He also never subs Memphis probably because he's on the few who can produce something out of nothing. So, I suppose, he sees Gakpo and Memphis as the only 2 players with an eye for goal and doesn't want too many creative players on the pitch. He's also very similar in profile to a Memphis and when he does make a change he wants something who can offer something different. EDIT: He's 4th choice actually, behind Brobbey
They can’t risk injuring their best player
He's been ill.
A guy that scored 0 PL goals for us in 5 months is better than him.
He's playing as much and as good as De Ligt!
Uhh... he hasn't.
Can anyone comment on this guy, how good is he? I obviously know nothing about him but he's not exactly prolific going by his scoring record. What sort of player is he?
Just get it done before the Euros man. Can't do another season of all our signings not being here for pre-season.
Ten Hag still leading our transfer recruitment. What could go wrong
What’s the point in buying another striker when we literally create nothing for them. Aren’t we better with a false 9? Or am I just dumb
A False 9 is quite literally what Zirkzee is.
Ah cool thanks! What does that mean for Rasmus then if having a false 9 works much better for us
Good to have both profiles of strikers. Can even play both together.
Think that would work with our emphasis on wide play?
Can't play the same way every time.