Struggling for minutes at Old Trafford, the Dutch forward eyes a Serie A return as Manchester United considers a creative trade to bolster their squad depth.
Do Man Utd need a striker this summer?
More Videos
Joshua Zirkzee joined Manchester United in the summer of 2024 following a breakout campaign at Bologna, where his all-round displays played a key role in securing an unexpected UEFA Champions League place. After attracting interest from several top European clubs, United completed a £36.5 million move to bring the Dutch forward to Old Trafford.
Brought in during Erik ten Hag's tenure, Zirkzee arrived with a reputation as a technically gifted forward whose link-up play, movement and creativity often mattered just as much as his goals. His style suited Bologna's fluid attacking system and made him one of Serie A's most highly regarded young talents.
His debut season in Manchester showed glimpses of that quality, particularly towards the end of the campaign, before injury cut his progress short. The layoff also impacted his preparations for the following season, leaving him playing catch-up in both fitness and rhythm.
Since then, earning regular minutes has become increasingly difficult. Benjamin Šeško has established himself as the first-choice striker, while Bryan Mbeumo has also been used through the middle when required, limiting Zirkzee's chances to cement a consistent role under Michael Carrick.
Zirkzee says yes to Juventus move
Unfortunately for Zirkzee, his performances since joining Old Trafford have shown that he is not an out-and-out striker who can be relied upon as Šeško's backup, or even to compete for a starting spot.
As a result, various rumours have circled about a move away for the 25-year-old this summer, with much of the interest coming from Serie A, where he thrived.
The latest report comes from Gazzetta dello Sport, which says Zirkzee is keen to join Serie A giants Juventus this summer and that he has reached an agreement in principle.
A major sticking point is the financial constraints facing the Italian giants, with the club needing to sell before making further purchases after signing Randal Kolo Muani.
The outlet reports that the ideal scenario for Juventus would be for a loan deal without a mandatory option to buy, much like Marcus Rashford's deal at Barcelona last season.
The French defender shines in preseason as Michael Carrick’s rejuvenated squad eyes a return to glory, blending tactical versatility with an ambitious vision for silverware.roundtable.ioLeny Yoro Agrees With Bryan Mbeumo About Man Utd's Premier League Title Charge
The French defender shines in preseason as Michael Carrick’s rejuvenated squad eyes a return to glory, blending tactical versatility with an ambitious vision for silverware.
Swap deal could be on the cards
Manchester United have done well to add key depth to the midfield, having already signed Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos, with the club set to sign one more player in the middle of the park to complete their midfield rebuild.
Other areas also need addressing, with the full-back, left-wing, and striker positions seen as needing some depth ahead of a Champions League campaign next season.
According to a report from Sport Mediaset, United could be plotting a move to sign Juventus forward Francisco Conceição, as the Reds could make an offer of £25 million plus Zirkzee as part of the offer to get a deal for the highly-rated right winger over the line.
It's evident that the Dutch striker is surplus to requirements at Old Trafford, and if United were able to pull off this swap deal, it would add significant depth to the wide positions, even though that isn't an immediate priority.