Manchester United's Joshua Zirkzee debut dilemma ahead of new signing announcement

Manchester United could announce an agreement to sign Bologna striker Joshua Zirkzee as early as today.

United have agreed a fee with the Serie A side for the Dutch international and he is expected to become their first signing of the summer. He will undergo a medical today.

Zirkzee had a €40m (£34m) release clause in his Bologna contract, but United have instead agreed to pay €42.5m, with the payments staggered over a three-year period. Had they opted to trigger the release clause, they would have had to pay it in full.

The Manchester Evening News reported last week that the fee could rise substantially with agents' fees. Sources in Italy have said United could spend up to £13m in commission to finalise the deal.

Zirkzee's international commitments are now over after the Netherlands were eliminated from the European Championship by England in Wednesday's semi-final. Zirkzee made two substitute appearances at the Euros.

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United want a striker to support Rasmus Hojlund after the injury-prone Anthony Martial was released. Zirkzee scored 12 goals in 37 games for Bologna as they qualified for the Champions League last season.

Zirkzee will not be available to figure in United's first four pre-season matches and it is unclear if he will link up with the squad for the South Carolina leg of their pre-season tour of the United States.

Even though United have installed a new technical director in Jason Wilcox and appointed Dan Ashworth as their inaugural sporting director, they are continuing to target players familiar to manager Erik ten Hag.

United's new power brokers were planning to sack Ten Hag before