Zirkzee primed for Juventus move as Manchester United negotiate loan with £30m option

Manchester United are in advanced negotiations with Juventus over a deal that would see Joshua Zirkzee join the Italian club on loan with an option to buy this summer.

According to British newspaper The Sun, the Dutch forward has emerged as a priority target for Juventus after their attempts to sign Randal Kolo Muani collapsed.

The report says Zirkzee’s representatives have responded positively to Juventus’s proposal, and the Serie A side are now leading the race for his signature ahead of other interested clubs.

United are understood to be ready to sanction a season-long loan, including a purchase option set at £30m, despite having paid around £36.5m to sign the striker in 2024.

Club officials are said to believe that the £30m figure is a fair reflection of Zirkzee’s current market value, following his inability to consistently impress since arriving at Old Trafford.

Limited role at Manchester United

Zirkzee has slipped down the pecking order at United, having started only five Premier League matches last season under head coach duo Ruben Amorim and Michael Carrick.

The 25-year-old has struggled to secure a regular starting place, and his overall contribution has been modest: he has scored nine goals in 75 appearances for the club.

Those figures, coupled with his reduced role in the squad, have left United open to a deal that could ultimately see him leave on a permanent basis if Juventus exercise their option.

For Zirkzee, the move is attractive. The forward is described as being open to a switch to the Allianz Stadium as he looks to revive his career with more regular game time.

Juventus turn to Zirkzee after Kolo Muani setback

Juventus had been close to signing France international Kolo Muani from Paris Saint-Germain following the striker’s unsuccessful loan spell at Tottenham last season.

However, talks between Juventus and PSG broke down after the two clubs failed to agree a fee, forcing the Italian side to abandon the pursuit.

With their search for a new centre-forward still unresolved, Juventus quickly shifted their focus to Zirkzee, identifying him as an alternative to lead the line in the No 9 role.

The interest from Turin comes amid wider attention in Zirkzee this summer, but Juventus are currently in pole position as negotiations with United progress.

Familiar territory in Serie A

A move to Juventus would mark a return to familiar surroundings for Zirkzee, who already has significant experience in Italian football.

He previously spent one season on loan at Parma, followed by two seasons with Bologna, giving him a strong knowledge of Serie A and the demands of Italian football.

That background, combined with Juventus’s need for a central striker and United’s willingness to let him leave on loan with a defined buy option, has brought the deal close to fruition, with all parties now working towards finalising an agreement.