Manchester United are in advanced talks with Juventus over a deal to send Joshua Zirkzee on loan with a £30million option to buy. The 25-year-old striker has fallen out of favour at Old Trafford, starting just one of the 17 games Michael Carrick managed last season.
Zirkzee's Struggles at United
Zirkzee's lack of playing time saw him miss out on the Netherlands' 26-man squad for the World Cup. He scored only two goals last season, his last coming in December against soon-to-be-relegated Wolves.
Juventus turned their attention to Zirkzee after a move for Paris Saint-Germain's Randal Kolo Muani collapsed. The Sun reports that Juventus are leading the race, with Roma also interested.
Serie A Return on the Cards
Zirkzee is keen on a return to Serie A, where he previously impressed for Bologna, scoring 14 goals and providing eight assists in 58 games. That form convinced United to pay £36.5m for him in 2024.
Despite his struggles, Zirkzee impressed in United's second pre-season friendly on Friday, scoring a solo goal and registering an assist in a 5-0 win over Rosenborg in Norway.
Impact on United's Squad
His departure would leave United short up front, with Benjamin Sesko the only senior centre forward in Carrick's squad, though Marcus Rashford can also play there after returning from a loan at Barcelona. United have so far spent £85m on three signings in midfield and goalkeeper.
Gullit's Advice
Dutch legend Ruud Gullit previously urged Zirkzee to leave United. "Joshua Zirkzee made a mistake moving to Manchester United - he should have stayed in Italy," Gullit told Gambling Insider. "When he left Bologna, he should have gone to Juventus or AC Milan and stayed in Serie A. He arrived at United when there was a lot of bad energy around the club. It was the wrong time for him. There have been rumours that he could now leave United and go to Roma in the summer. I hope he makes that move, or at least join another club in Italy, because it is a much more suitable league for him."
