Joshua Zirkzee’s time at Manchester United looks to be drawing to a close, with the club ready to sanction his departure this summer and a complex transfer battle already taking shape around the 24-year-old.
It has been a difficult debut season in the Premier League for the Dutch forward, who has managed just four league starts and a combined 32 minutes of action under interim manager Michael Carrick. That level of involvement tells you everything you need to know about where Zirkzee stands in the plans at Old Trafford, and it appears INEOS have reached the same conclusion.
Sources have confirmed that United have already communicated to Zirkzee’s camp that they will not block a move this summer, a notable change from their stance in January when the club refused to let him leave. The one firm condition is that United will not accept a loss on a striker they paid just over £35m for in 2024. That valuation may prove to be the most complicated part of this whole saga.
Juventus lead the chase for Joshua Zirkzee but face serious competition
Juventus have been long-term admirers of Zirkzee and remain firmly in the running. Despite making progress on a new contract for Dusan Vlahovic, the Turin club are still looking to strengthen their attacking options and have turned their focus to the Dutchman following their decision to move on from Jonathan David, who has featured sporadically this season and is likely to leave in the summer.
But Juventus are far from alone. Roma, Atalanta and an ambitious Como side pushing for Champions League qualification have all registered concrete interest, making Italy the most probable destination for Zirkzee at this stage. His previous time in Serie A with Bologna speaks for itself: 14 goals and nine assists across 54 appearances is exactly the kind of output that gets clubs in that league excited.
There is also interest from Germany, where Zirkzee spent his formative years developing at Bayern Munich. Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen are both keeping a close eye on his situation, meaning a return to the Bundesliga cannot be entirely ruled out.
Does Man United exit makes sense for Zirkzee?
Quite frankly, a fresh start is in the best interests of everyone involved. Zirkzee is a talented footballer who clearly needs consistent minutes and a manager who trusts him. That has not been the case at Old Trafford, and with Carrick seemingly unmoved by his qualities, the writing is on the wall. If United can find a buyer willing to pay the full £35m, this is a deal that resolves itself cleanly.
The coming weeks are expected to be decisive in determining where Zirkzee ends up next season. The queue of suitors is there. The fee is the only question.
