Man Utd and Arsenal receive transfer warning from Bologna but 'no deadline' for Motta

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ByLorenzo Bettoni

Feb 8, 2024 12:17

Bologna director Claudio Fenucci insists the Rossoblu are stable financially so they are in no hurry to sell their players, but they will soon sit down with Thiago Motta’s agents to discuss the coach’s contract extension.

Bologna are surprisingly involved in the race for the top four this season and many of their players have been linked with a move elsewhere in the summer. Many European clubs have also monitored Thiago Motta as his contract runs out in the summer.

“There is no news, the positive thing is that Motta works with his staff like they had a long-term contract here,” Fenucci said at a press conference on Wednesday.

“They only think about Bologna so the future does not worry me. I understand the media interest, but I think there are too many rumours about his future and our players’ future who are all under contract with Bologna.

“We are a strong club financially, and we must focus on the present, which says we are in the race for a big target so this requires everyone to be focused.”

Manchester United and Arsenal are among the clubs interested in Bologna’s leading scorer, Joshua Zirkzee, but Fenucci’s claims mean both Premier League sides must expect a high price tag for the Dutch striker.

A previous report from Gazzetta claimed the Rossoblu expect to sell Zirkzee for at least €75m, the same fee paid by the Red Devils to sign Rasmus Hojlund from Atalanta last year.

Motta, on the other hand, has been linked with a number of Italian and European clubs, including Milan, Juventus and Barcelona, even if the Catalans’ director, Deco, has recently said he hasn’t watched many Bologna games this season.

“Over the next few days or weeks, we’ll meet the coach’s agent and see if we can make some steps forward,” said Fenucci.

“There is no deadline. I repeat, his work proves how badly he wants the team and the players to improve, so he is working for the future, too. It is necessary to talk to his representative to understand if our proposals can find receptivity on the other side and, as I’ve always said, this is not a negotiation we can carry forward through the media. You will immediately be informed when there will be substantial updates.”