Agent ‘would like to bring’ player to Arsenal – Gunners have advantage in race, Edu could be key

The Italian media today shares some encouraging news for Arsenal in their pursuit of Joshua Zirkzee.

Newspaper Corriere Dello Sport features a piece claiming Bologna would like to keep their star, especially because they’d be happy to have him in the Champions League next season.

Zirkzee has been drawing interest from several clubs, though, and there are a couple of factors why Arsenal seem to have an advantage in the race.

The first is about rivalry. Bologna accept that the player may leave, and all they ask is for him not to move to Juventus, who’ll have their former manager Thiago Motta in charge.

Now what actually seems to favour Arsenal is the will from agent Kia Joorabchian, ‘who’d like to bring’ Zirkzee to the London side.

It’s said the Gunners have a contract worth £5m per year, plus bonuses, waiting for the player, while Edu Gaspar would ‘fill his friend Kia with gold’.

Zirkzee’s release clause is €40m, and that’s why Bologna know they have their hands tied. Despite the hope of a contract renewal, the player is expected to make huge demands, so a battle between Arsenal and other suitors feels like the most likely scenario.