Joshua Zirkzee’s Manchester United future has shifted into a summer sale race, with Juventus and Napoli both pushing for him while United decide whether to move him on. United ended pre-season with a 4-2 defeat to AC Milan, and Michael Carrick left Zirkzee out of the final game after he had stood out in Dublin against Leeds at a sold-out Croke Park.
United's reasons to listen
The case for a sale starts with the numbers. Zirkzee has scored just five Premier League goals and nine in total in 75 appearances for United since his £36.5million move from Bologna in summer 2024.
That return does not make him untouchable. It does, though, make this a negotiation rather than a clean exit, and that is why the Serie A interest matters.
Juventus finished sixth in Serie A in 2025, while Napoli finished second. Both remain attractive destinations, but the path to a deal is different for each club. Juventus need to clear space in attack before they move, while Napoli are expected to sanction a departure before making a serious push.
The rivalry in the chase is real enough. Metro reported that Zirkzee has said yes to moves to both clubs, which fits the sense that the race is open rather than settled.
United are not under pressure to give him away, but they are clearly open to a sale if the offer lands. Zirkzee’s season finish at Old Trafford, plus the way Carrick handled him in pre-season, points to a player who is available if the right bid arrives.
The Serie A race
The awkward part for United is that both clubs have reasons to believe they can make the move work. Juventus still carry the pull of a heavyweight, and Napoli can sell the chance of joining a side that finished second in 2025.
That leaves Zirkzee in the middle of a proper market rather than a simple loan-to-buy story. If Juventus clear room first, they can move. If Napoli act first, they have the stronger league position on recent form. Either way, United’s stance is the same: the door is open, but only for the right offer.
Pre-season has already hinted at where he stands in the pecking order, and the final decision now rests on which club can turn interest into room in their squad before the window closes.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 4 outlets. How we work →
