Joshua Zirkzee’s Manchester United future is looking increasingly temporary. Reports say Manchester United have moved from preferring a permanent sale to being open to a loan, while Juventus are said to be pushing for the deal and talks have involved Zirkzee’s agent Kia Joorabchian and Juventus chief Ricky Massara.

United's shift from sale to loan

That change in stance is the real development here. Football Italia reported that United had initially wanted a permanent transfer, then opened up to a season-long exit, which is a clear sign the club are willing to be flexible on one of their squad decisions.

The footballing case is fairly easy to see. Zirkzee has fallen behind Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo in the pecking order, and his returns at Old Trafford have not forced the issue. He has scored 9 goals in 75 appearances for United since arriving in a €42.5m move from Bologna in summer 2024.

David Ornstein added more context to United’s wider planning, saying: “Midfield and left-back are two of the MAIN areas of importance for them in the market.” That does not resolve the Zirkzee situation on its own, but it does show why the club can entertain an exit in attack while looking elsewhere for their bigger priorities.

Juventus' side of the move

Juventus make sense as a landing spot because they are still active in attack-minded business and are not treating the forward line as finished. They finished sixth in Serie A in 2025, and they have already added Randal Kolo Muani and Kerim Alajbegovic this summer.

The only real point of disagreement in the reporting is the deal structure. Some sources have suggested Juventus want a loan with a future option or obligation, while others still frame United as favouring a permanent sale. The common thread is simpler: Zirkzee is available, United are listening, and Juventus are trying to turn that into a low-risk move.

A loan would suit the direction of travel here better than a full sale right now. United get an exit without forcing a rushed permanent call, and Juventus get a forward they believe can fit immediately. The next step is whether the talks between Joorabchian and Massara produce a structure both clubs can actually sign off on.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 5 outlets. How we work →