Aston Villa ahead of Man Utd, Arsenal in pursuit of Serie A gem with agent's help

Aston Villa has taken the lead in the race to secure the signature of Joshua Zirkzee, the highly-rated Dutch striker currently playing for Bologna in Serie A as per Bologna Sports News. The 22-year-old has attracted interest from several Premier League clubs, including Manchester United and Arsenal, after an impressive season in Italy.

Villa's Sporting Director Monchi, known for his ability to identify and recruit promising young players, has set his sights on Zirkzee as the club prepares for a potential Champions League campaign next season.

With current striker Ollie Watkins linked with a move away from Villa Park, Zirkzee could provide the necessary attacking reinforcements to help the team compete at the highest level.

Super-agent Kia Joorabchian, who has close ties to Aston Villa, is reportedly working diligently to facilitate Zirkzee's move to the Midlands club. Joorabchian's Sports Invest UK agency represents the Dutch striker, and the influential agent is known for his ability to broker high-profile deals.

With Joorabchian's involvement, Aston Villa's chances of securing Zirkzee's signature have significantly increased, potentially giving them an edge over their Premier League rivals.

Signing the talented Dutchman, however, will not be an inexpensive endeavour. Bologna is reportedly asking for a transfer fee between €60-70 million for their star player, who will also require an annual salary of approximately €4 million.

Despite the high costs involved, Aston Villa remains determined to secure Zirkzee's services, with super-agent Kia Joorabchian reportedly working behind the scenes to help facilitate the deal.

Zirkzee's performances this season have made him one of the most sought-after young strikers in Europe. In addition to his 10 league goals, he has provided 4 assists, averages 2.07 shots per 90 minutes with 55.77% accuracy, and is involved in 0.52 goals per 90 minutes. These statistics highlight his consistency in contributing to his team's attacking play and his ability to find the back of the net regularly.

While Aston Villa may be leading the race to sign Zirkzee, they face strong competition from other interested parties. Manchester United and Arsenal have both shown interest in the striker, but reports suggest that Zirkzee's preferred destination is AC Milan. The player has allegedly instructed his agents to pave the way for a dream move to the Italian giants.

Despite the interest from other clubs, Bologna CEO Claudio Fenucci remains determined to retain the club's key players, including Zirkzee. As the transfer window approaches, it remains to be seen whether Aston Villa can negotiate a deal with Bologna and fend off competition from rivals to secure the services of one of Europe's most promising young strikers.

The pursuit of Joshua Zirkzee by Aston Villa and other top European clubs is a clear indication of the young Dutchman's talent and potential.