Joshua Zirkzee is being pushed towards Juventus as part of a wider summer move that could also shape Francisco Conceição's future. The Italian reports do not all describe the deal in exactly the same way, but they do agree on the basic direction: Juventus want a loan structure, Manchester United are open to a sale, and the Dutch forward has become part of a bigger negotiating game.

Juventus' preferred structure

La Gazzetta dello Sport said “the ideal scenario for Juventus would be for a loan deal with a non-mandatory option to buy”, while Corriere dello Sport described Juventus as “the clear frontrunners to wrap up a deal for Zirkzee”. That leaves the most likely shape of the move sitting somewhere between a loan-plus-option and a more flexible exit route for United.

The attraction for Juventus is obvious enough. Zirkzee has managed only nine goals and four assists in 75 appearances for United, and he started just one of United's final ten matches of last season. He has featured in each of United's last 10 league matches in the stat sample, but only for 17.5 minutes per game on average. His 6.39 average rating across that run is steady rather than persuasive.

United's asking price and Juventus' alternatives

United are reported to want a fee in the region of €35m-€40m if they sell Zirkzee this summer. That price point helps explain why Juventus are not treating this as a simple purchase. They are also keeping an eye on Chelsea options Liam Delap and Emmanuel Emegha as possible loan alternatives, which suggests the club is shopping by profile as much as by name.

Juventus' own recent league form is part of the picture too. They have gone 4W-3D-3L in their last 10 league matches, and that is not the record of a side that can ignore attacking depth. Jonathan David is the candidate Juventus would need to move on to make room for more arrivals, so the Zirkzee chase sits inside a broader reshuffle rather than as a standalone deal.

The Conceição story adds the real intrigue. Some reports put his price at €50m-€60m, others at €40m-€50m including bonuses, and another source has €60m. That spread is exactly why the swap idea matters. If Juventus can use Zirkzee to soften the terms, the move becomes more than a simple loan chase. It becomes the sort of exchange that can unlock the rest of their summer business.

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