Expert who discovered Joshua Zirkzee names £17m ace Manchester United should sign next

Eyebrows were raised back in 2022 when Manchester United’s summer signing Joshua Zirkzee was labelled ‘better than Erling Haaland’.

Understandably so, too. Then at Borussia Dortmund, Haaland was halfway through a 29-goal season when Souleyman Ozturk made those comments two-and-a-half years ago.

Joshua Zirkzee, while in the midst of an impressive campaign of his own at Anderlecht, was operating at a far lower level and putting up far lower numbers.

But now, with both strikers operating on either side of the Manchester divide, Zirkzee’s £35 million switch from Bologna to Manchester United means that statements Ozturk may have been ridiculed for at the time can now be seen from a completely new perspective.

Joshua Zirkzee living up to expectations at Manchester United

“Zirkzee is better than Erling Haaland at everything,” the reporter told Voetbal International.

“Now you may be dismayed because of this statement. But I will frame it. (Zirkzee) has vision, technique, strength, charisma, flair, footballing ability. He is therefore better than Haaland in almost everything.

“Imagine if Zirkzee had the energy and focus of Haaland. Then he would be the best striker in the world.”

Of course, Zirkzee is certainly not a better goalscorer than Haaland. The former is already trailing the latter by eight in the Premier League’s Golden Boot charts. It is also hard to imagine Haaland passing up at least two of the chances Zirkzee missed in Saturday’s 3-0 win at Southampton.

But while far from a better goalscorer, is Zirkzee a better ‘footballer’ from a technical point of view? You could certainly argue that his skill-set is more rounded. That he is more skilful on the ball, that he possesses the sort of smooth ball-carrying and playmaking vision that Haaland lacks.

‘Very skilful’ and a ‘master’ link man.

The self-professed ‘nine and a half’ gave United’s frontline an all-new dimension and a far greater flow during that Saints win, bringing out far more from a maligned but much-improved Marcus Rashford.

What cannot be questioned, meanwhile, is that Zirkzee has come on leaps and bounds since Ozturk tipped him for the very top of the game back in 2022. From Anderlecht to Bologna and, via the Serie A Young Player of the Year award, to Old Trafford.

Ozturk, then, could be forgiven for patting himself on the back and toasting his own talent I.D.

And back to the present day, the Eredivisie expert believes that there is another highly-underrated talent who perhaps deserves to join Zirkzee at Manchester United.

PSV star Olivier Boscagli recommended to Red Devils

Speaking to Voebtal International Uncensored on YouTube, Ozturk feels that Man United would be pulling off a masterstroke if they were to pursue PSV Eindhoven’s Olivier Boscagli.

“Boscagli is so good,” Ozturk says. “He should actually be in defence at United.”

A left-sided, ball-playing defender with the passing range of a seasoned midfielder, Boscagli is just about the typical prototype of the modern centre-half.

In fact, at a time in which left-sided defenders are in such high demand, it is remarkable really that offers have been in such short supply for a man who helped PSV cruise to the Eredivisie title in 2023.

Brighton and Hove Albion made two bids with PSV holding out for £17 million, per the Eindhovens Dagblad. But The Seagulls were the only side really to attempt to test the Dutch champions’ resolve.

Of course, it is not beyond the realms of possibility that Man United could follow Ozturk’s advice. The FA Cup holders are likely to prioritise a left-sided centre-half themselves next summer to ease the burden on Lisandro Martinez.

And while Jarrad Branthwaite remains the leading candidate – relegation for Everton would surely force them to drastically reduce that £75 million asking price – the early success of Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui may mave Ineos aligned with Erik ten Hag about the value that can be found amongst Eredivisie exports.

Man United know better than to base their transfer targets off the opinion of one reporter. But Ozturk clearly has an eye for under-appreciated talent.

Ex-Premier League owner slams ‘waste of money’ Manchester United signing

Erik ten Hag signing Antony has been accused of bringing ‘nothing’ to Manchester United by a former Premier League owner.

Antony became one of the most expensive signings in Premier League history when he completed an £82m move to Old Trafford from Ajax in 2022.

The Brazilian winger scored 24 goals and made 22 assists in 82 appearances for Ajax and played under Ten Hag before the manager left to join United.

Antony registered just five Premier League goals across his first two seasons at Old Trafford and is yet to start a league game so far this term, although he did open his account for the campaign in the 7-0 Carabao Cup thrashing over League One side Barnsley.

Ten Hag recently admitted Antony was growing ‘impatient’ over his reduced role at United but former Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan believes he needs to do way more to save his Premier League career.

‘Of course there is a pressure and of course there is an expectation because if you spend big money on players, naturally you expect big outcomes,’ he told talkSPORT.

‘If a £25m footballer doesn’t succeed there’s less noise around it. In this instance, with Antony, at £25m he would have been a bad buy because he’s been poor and everything about him has been poor.

‘He’s brought nothing. What has he brought to Manchester United beside headlines? Certainly nothing on the football field.

‘So at £25m you would be saying it’s a waste of money, at £85m you’ve got to look at the manager and ask why he bought him, especially as he knew him.’

Ten Hag speaks after Man Utd spank Barnsley 7-0 in EFL Cup

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Ten Hag praised Antony’s performance against Barnsley and said he ‘would not hesitate’ to consider starting him in Manchester United’s next Premier League fixture against Crystal Palace this weekend.

Manchester United legend makes prediction that will anger Tottenham supporters

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After their dealings in the summer transfer window, many expected Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham Hotspur to be a dominant force in the Premier League; however, looking at the start they have had, questions have been raised about the Lilywhites spending.

The North Londoners have accumulated only four points in the opening four Premier League outings, and the latest Spurs defeat came against Arsenal in the North London Derby at San Siro last weekend. The Lilywhites had all the possession in the world, and they went on to play the game in the Gunners hands, who were playing with an injury-depleted squad.

While the hosts had more time on the ball, Arsenal managed to generate better chances and eventually went on to win the game, thanks to a 64th-minute header from Brazilian defender Gabriel.

In the aftermath of the game, Dwight Yorke has backed Manchester United to finish in a Champions League qualification place over Tottenham, as the latter have only won one game in what is still a very young season.

While Spurs will have an objective of a top-four finish, it looks highly unlikely considering the start that Ange Postecoglou’s side has had. And Yorke, speaking to beIN SPORTS, insists that despite United being as they are right now, they still have a better chance of finishing in the CL-qualification places over Tottenham.

Yorke said,

“It is a good question. I think Manchester United has got a good chance. There’s no way Tottenham are ahead of Manchester United, no way. As bad as we may be right now in our current position, Tottenham is not ahead of Manchester United in