'Terms agreed' - Arsenal set to miss out on £34m target as release clause to be paid

It is no secret that Arsenal have several strikers on their wish-list ahead of the upcoming transfer window. The Emirates Stadium side were said to be in the lead for Bologna’s Joshua Zirkzee but the latest reports now indicate he is to remain within Serie A, heading to Bologna’s rivals AC Milan.

The Dutch footballer has registered 15 goal contributions in his 34 matches for Bologna this campaign with several clubs, including the Gunners and Manchester United, keeping tabs on his situation. However, according to reports from Italian outlet Calcio Mercato, the 23-year-old winger is set to snub both Premier League options after it was revealed AC Milan had triggered his release clause of £34 million.

It was claimed that the player had agreed personal terms with Milan, and that he’s set to sign a five-year contract with €4million to be paid in bonuses, with I Rossoneri ready to trigger the required release clause too.

This news comes hours after a report on Sky Italy had said Milan had flown out to London in order to discuss options with the 23-year-old striker, but that nothing had yet been confirmed. The report noted: “Milan are still pushing to sign the 23-year-old after flying to London late last week for talks. Nothing was agreed but they remain in contact with his representatives.”

Both Arsenal and Manchester United were said to still be watching over the situation and remain interested in the Bologna ace, but the Gunners may well now opt to prioritise their other transfer targets, most notably RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko who registered 20 goal contributions across all competitions for the Bundesliga side this 2023/24 campaign.

With the upcoming European Championships commencing on the same day the transfer window starts, players such as Zirkzee and Sesko will have yet another opportunity to show off their goal-scoring skills ahead of the 2024/25 season but, despite the month-long links between the two parties, it now appears as if the Gunners have missed out on their previously considered transfer priority.