Manchester United have reportedly reignited their pursuit of Bologna attacker Dan Ndoye, a former teammate of Joshua Zirkzee‘s in Serie A.
The Red Devils supposedly showed an interest in signing the Switzerland international during Euro 2024, but they failed to get a deal over the line and he remained with the Rossoblu.
Ndoye has enjoyed another solid campaign in Italy, contributing eight goals and four assists in 29 Serie A matches for Bologna, who occupy eighth place in the top-flight table ahead of the final round.
However, the attacker will be in the final two years of his contract by the time the summer rolls around, and if he does not extend, there is an argument to sell him now while his stock is at its highest.
According to Italian outlet Tuttosport – via CaughtOffside – Man United have not lost sight of Ndoye, whom Inter Milan also expressed an interest in last summer.
Man United ‘quoted £33.6m’ for Ndoye signing
However, the Red Devils have been told to fork out €40m (£33.6m) if they want to prise Ndoye away from Bologna, whose deal with the Serie A side also includes a 12-month extension option until 2028.
The 24-year-old represented Swiss outfits Lausanne-Sport and FC Basel as well as Ligue 1 side Nice before signing for Bologna, who paid just £8.5m to bring him to Serie A in 2023.
Finding his feet in Italy, Ndoye has managed 11 goals and eight assists in 74 matches for Bologna across all competitions, including the winning goal in the Rossoblu’s Coppa Italia final triumph over AC Milan.
A 20-cap Switzerland international, Ndoye started all five of the Rossocrociati’s matches at Euro 2024, scoring the opener in a 1-1 draw with Germany in the group stage as his nation reached the quarter-finals.
Could Ndoye and Zirkzee reunite at Man United?
Ndoye and Zirkzee enjoyed one season of collaboration at Bologna in the 2023-24 campaign, when the Rossoblu defied the odds to qualify for the Champions League under Thiago Motta.
Zirkzee’s success in Italy did not translate into a strong start to life in Manchester, though, and the Dutchman has only managed seven goals and three assists in 49 games for Ruben Amorim‘s side.
Zirkzee’s disappointing start to life at Old Trafford has inevitably triggered speculation over a possible exit, and the Red Devils are said to be in talks with Italian teams over the 24-year-old and Rasmus Hojlund.
Signing Ndoye could benefit both the Switzerland international and Zirkzee given their former exploits together, but it would still be a shock to see the latter stick around in Manchester for another season.
However, Man United have been dealt a major blow in their pursuit of a potential successor, as 53-goal sensation Viktor Gyokeres has been told that he has to stay at Sporting Lisbon.
