Joshua Zirkzee could be on the move again this summer, with Juventus pushing for an initial loan and Manchester United considering how to reshape their attack. The move is still being discussed, but the structure is clearer than it was a few days ago. Zirkzee’s season at Old Trafford also helps explain why a Serie A return is being treated seriously.

The shape of the deal

Sun Sport reported that Manchester United and Juventus are in advanced talks over a deal that would see Joshua Zirkzee leave. Sky Sport Italia offered a cooler read, saying the process is difficult and complex and not close to completion.

The numbers attached to the proposal also vary by report. United are open to an initial season-long loan with a £30m option to buy, while other reporting has put the option at €35m. What is not in dispute is the basic structure: a loan first, then a decision later.

Zirkzee’s United record

Zirkzee started just five Premier League games in 2025/26, which is hard to ignore for a forward who arrived for £36.5m from Bologna two summers ago. His United return has been modest by any normal standard, with nine goals in 75 appearances since that move.

That is why Juventus see a route worth exploring. He is not being sold as a finished product returning to Italy, but as a player who has already shown enough in Serie A to keep the interest alive. Sports Mole also said he started only five Premier League matches under Michael Carrick and Ruben Amorim last season, while Football Italia put his United record at nine goals and four assists in 75 competitive appearances.

Juventus finished sixth in Serie A last season and scored 61 league goals, so the need for extra attacking options is easy to understand. The club have been looking for reinforcements, and Zirkzee looks like the sort of deal they can structure without taking a huge gamble.

For now, this is still a negotiation rather than a completed move. But the talks have moved far enough to make a United exit feel realistic, and Juventus are clearly serious about trying to land him before the window shuts.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 4 outlets. How we work →