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LIVERPOOL 2-0 BOLOGNA | POST MATCH ANALYSIS

LIVERPOOL VS. BOLOGNA | CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

 

MAN UNITED, BOLOGNA AGREE DEAL FOR JOSHUA ZIRKEE - SOURCE

 Manchester United have agreed a fee with Bologna for striker Joshua Zirkzee, a source has told ESPN.

United have reached a deal worth more than the €40 million ($43m) release clause written into Zirkzee's contract to allow the club to pay the fee over a longer period.

Triggering the release clause would have meant making a payment up front. A source has told ESPN that United have chosen to pay a "modest premium" in exchange for a longer payment period.

Zirkzee, who was also wanted by AC Milan, has already agreed personal terms and will move to Old Trafford on a five-year contract following a medical.

The 23-year-old, who scored 12 goals for Bologna last season, is set to become United's first signing of the summer.

Meanwhile, the club have confirmed Ruud van Nistelrooy and Rene Hake have both signed two-year contracts to become part of Erik ten Hag's backroom staff.

Steve McClaren and Darren Fletcher will stay on as first-team coaches.

Mitchell van der Gaag and Benni McCarthy have left.

"I am delighted that Rene and Ruud have agreed to join our project, adding a wealth of experience, knowledge and new energy to the staff," Ten Hag said.

"Now is a good time to refresh the coaching team as we look to build on the achievements of the past two years and push to the next level."

United announced on Thursday that midfielder Donny van de Beek has left to join Girona. Sources have told ESPN the deal is worth an initial €500k but could rise to €9.1m through add-ons.

- Rob Dawson, Correspondent

RICCARDO CALAFIORI VS. GABRIEL MAGALHAES | STATS

 

MAN UNITED NEAR DEAL FOR BOLOGNA STRIKER

Joshua Zirkzee came off the bench for the Netherlands in their quarterfinal win over Turkey on Saturday. Christina Pahnke - sampics/Getty Images

 Manchester United are closing in on a deal for Bologna striker Joshua Zirkzee, a source has told ESPN.

United have reached a broad agreement over payments relating to Zirkzee's representatives, which had been a stumbling block, and will now seek to reach a deal with Bologna.

Zirkzee has a release clause of £34 million ($43.5m) in his contract which is valid until August, but United may look to negotiate a different deal.

The 23-year-old, who has also been subject of interest from AC Milan, is part of the Netherlands squad preparing for their Euro 2024 semifinal against England in Dortmund on Wednesday.

Zirkzee has emerged as United's preferred striker target after they also considered both Lille's Jonathan David and Brentford's Ivan Toney.

Chelsea have also shown interest in David, who has one year left on his contract at Lille and is available for around £25m.

Zirkzee scored 12 goals for Bologna last season as they finished fifth in Serie A, qualifying for the Champions League for the first time in the modern era.

A source has told ESPN that United remain in contact with Bayern Munich over a deal for Zirkzee's international teammate, Matthijs de Ligt.

The German side are willing to negotiate the defender's exit and value the 24-year-old at more than £40m. United have already seen a bid turned down for Everton centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite this summer.

Bringing in a striker, a centre-back and a central midfielder are United's priorities in the summer window. Dan Ashworth has now taken control of recruitment following his arrival as sporting director last week.

Midfielder Donny van de Beek, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Eintracht Frankfurt, is set to join Girona in a permanent deal worth around £420,000. The fee could increase depending on his success at Girona.

United signed the former Netherlands international midfielder from Ajax in a £40m deal in 2020.

United players who have not taken part in either the European Championship or the Copa América are expected back at Carrington for the start of preseason training on Monday.

Ten Hag has boosted his backroom staff by adding to its Dutch contingent, with legendary striker Ruud van Nistelrooy and Rene Hake agreeing two-year deals with the club.

- Rob Dawson, Correspondent

AC MILAN COACH PIOLI LEAVING AT THE END OF THE SEASON,

AP Photo 

 MILAN, Italy (AP) — AC Milan coach Stefano Pioli is leaving the Italian club at the end of the season after a near five-year stint that included the 2022 Serie A title.

Milan announced Pioli’s departure on Friday, a day before its final league game of the season at home to Salernitana.

Pioli stepping down had been widely expected, with club great Zlatan Ibrahimovic — who has been given a front-office role by Milan's American owners — reportedly already involved in the search for a successor.

The club thanked Pioli for “securing an unforgettable league title and re-establishing AC Milan’s consistent presence in the top European competition.”

“Stefano’s professionalism and human touch have significantly contributed to the growth of the squad, embodying the club’s core values from day one,” Milan said in a statement.

The 2022 league title was Milan's first in 11 years. It will finish this season in second place, behind crosstown rival Inter Milan.

Milan was taken over after its 2022 title by American investment firm RedBird Capital. Pioli's future had been in doubt since February, when RedBird owner Gerry Cardinale and Ibrahimović declined to commit to him when asked about speculation of a coaching change after the season.

Reports in Italy have linked Pioli to taking over Napoli. The 58-year-old coach also previously coached Inter, Fiorentina, Lazio, Bologna, Parma and several other clubs.

Under Pioli, Milan ended a seven-year absence from the Champions League in 2021 and reached the semifinals last season, losing to Inter.

This season, Pioli's team failed to advance from a tough group that included Borussia Dortmund, which plays in the final next week, and Paris Saint-Germain. Milan then switched to the second-tier Europa League and was eliminated by Roma in the quarterfinals.

Inter's runaway Serie A title success has established its supremacy in the city and Italian soccer, despite financial turmoil that saw the club also fall into American ownership this week. Both Milan and Inter had Chinese owners who lost control of the clubs to American investment funds after missing loan repayments.

BOLOGNA BEAT SELENITANA TO INCH CLOSER TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP LEAGUE

AP Photo 

 ROME (AP) — Bologna beat lowly Salernitana 3-0 in Serie A on Monday and took another step towards Champions League football.

The eighth win in nine games for Thiago Motta’s side pushed it to within two points of third-placed Juventus. A fourth place finish would ensure Bologna of Champions League football for the first time.

Riccardo Orsolini opened the scoring after 14 minutes with a tremendous left-foot shot from outside the box and Alexis Saelemaekers doubled Bologna’s lead a minute from halftime.

Left back Charalampos Lykogiannis completed the scoring in stoppage time after working a neat one-two with Saelemaekers.

The result marked an unhappy debut for Salernitana coach Stefano Colantuono, the club’s fourth coach this season.

Salernitana looks doomed to spend next season in the second tier. With eight games remaining, it is 11 points from safety.

Salernitana plays Sassuolo next Friday in a relegation six-point game made all the more urgent after Sassuolo surrendered a lead at home to Udinese.

BOLOGNA REMAINS IN CONTENTION FOR CHAMPIONS LEAGUE PLACE WITH A 2-1 WIN AT LAZIO IN SERIE A

AP

 ROME (AP) — Bologna remained in contention for a Champions League place with a 2-1 comeback victory at Lazio in Serie A on Sunday.

Oussama El Azzouzi and Joshua Zirkzee scored for Bologna after Gustav Isasksen had given Lazio an early advantage.

Bologna’s fourth straight victory moved it back into fifth place, level on points with fourth-placed Atalanta. Lazio remained eighth.

Lazio complained to league officials about the early lunchtime kickoff coming four days after a victory over Bayern Munich in the first leg of the Champions League last 16.

Fiorentina was held to a 1-1 draw at Empoli in a Tuscan derby and Udinese and Cagliari also drew 1-1.

Later, AC Milan had a chance to leapfrog Juventus into second place with a win at neighboring Monza; and Roma was visiting Frosinone.