Man Utd have been 'warned' by Sir Alex Ferguson over Joshua Zirkzee transfer negotiations

Joshua Zirkzee’s agent was once engaged in a bitter war of words with Sir Alex Ferguson.

It has been widely reported that United are interested in signing Bologna striker Joshua Zirkzee, with the Old Trafford club in communications with his advisor Kia Joorabchian and considering whether to make a bid.

The 23-year-old, who is part of the Netherlands’ Euro 2024 squad, scored 12 goals as Bologna went on to secure Champions League qualification under Thiago Motta.

However, United have previously dealt with Joorabchian. Indeed, then-United manager Ferguson was engaged in a war of words with the agent over the prospect of signing Carlos Tevez permanently back in 2009.

At the time, Ferguson said a deal to keep Tevez at Old Trafford after his loan expired had been put on the table, only for Joorabchian to respond by saying: "It is categorically untrue Manchester United made an offer to try to persuade Carlos to stay."

With Tevez also publicly hinting he had not been offered a deal to stay at United, Ferguson said: "He knows I want him to stay. We spoke today and chief executive David Gill has had meetings with him.

"We have given him an offer and we hope he accepts. The problem is we are not negotiating with a football club."

Joorabchian claimed United had not taken up an option to buy the striker when his two-year loan deal expired. He said: "In 2007 Manchester United agreed a two-year loan deal for Carlos Tevez and at the same time agreed the terms that would make the transfer permanent. They have not taken up that option."

Joorabchian added: "He's been disappointed at the way he's been treated - he shouldn't be in this situation.

Ferguson was engaged in a war of words with Joorabchian when he was Tevez's agent (Getty)

"He did enough to warrant a contract last year but they decided not to do that and to go for other players and in January he felt he might be offered a contract and he wasn't, so now I think he feels not as good as when he first joined.

"The fact of the matter is Carlos hasn't asked for any amount of money and hasn't been offered any amount of money - that's where we are at the moment."

United will hope their dealings with Joorabchian are conducted with more clarity this summer.

The club are allegedly keen to do business early in the transfer window, with the club having also had a £35million bid rejected by Everton for defender Jarrad Branthwaite.

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