United take necessary steps in bid to sign red-hot Serie A hitman as Zirkzee’s replacement – report

Bologna’s Santiago Castro could be the man to replace Joshua Zirkzee at Manchester United. Zirkzee’s United career has failed to take off. He has not lived up to the hype that saw the Red Devils sanction his £36.5 million deal in the summer of 2024. Though technically gifted and among the most intelligent players in his position, his struggle to adapt to the Premier League’s pace has ultimately held him back. Ahead of the summer transfer window, he is among the United stars expected to be on the move. With his departure looking increasingly likely, the Manchester Reds are heavily linked with a striker transfer. The club are looking to sign someone who can challenge Benjamin Sesko for a starting spot. Who that striker is remains a mystery, but it could well be Bologna’s number nine, Castro, as per il Resto del Carlino. United to go undercover at Villa Park Castro appears to have caught United’s attention to the point that the 20-time English champions are already taking necessary steps in their bid to sign him. Indeed, when Bologna visit Villa Park on Thursday night for the second leg of their Europa League quarter-final clash, INEOS are set to dispatch scouts to the West Midlands. As the Italian outlet confirms: “There will be even more (scouting) in Birmingham, including those from Chelsea and Manchester United, according to rumours from across the Channel on the eve of the match, given that the Red Devils could sell former Rossoblu player Zirkzee at the end of the season.” Castro for Zirkzee makes perfect sense When United signed Zirkzee, he was coming off a campaign in which he had notched 12 goals in 37 games. Castro is not boasting better numbers, with 11 goals so far this season for I Rossoblu. However, the Argentinian is more of a traditional striker, precisely the profile the Red Devils need, rather than the hybrid forward Zirkzee is. Highly mobile, tenacious, and versatile, he is often compared to his compatriot Sergio Aguero owing to his low centre of gravity and high energy. Castro effortlessly disrupts defences with his quick movements, consistently punishing opponents to his team’s advantage. He is built for the Premier League, something Zirkzee has, regrettably, failed to prove. Featured image Alessandro Sabattini via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Daniel Onguko Dan is a writer with The Peoples Person, an avid Manchester United fan whose passion for the Red Devils evolved into writing about them. He was introduced to United back in 2008, and his love for the club has continued to grow ever since. Like every other United fan, he believes the club will soon return to its rightful place and strives to reflect that belief in his writing. While he has also written about other Premier League sides, including Arsenal for Just Arsenal and The Arsenal Analysis Blogspot, Dan lives and breathes Manchester United.