Joshua Zirkzee: Juventus Targets New No9 After Kolo Muani Deal Fails
Joshua Zirkzee has emerged as Juventus’ new priority up front after their move for Randal Kolo Muani hit the wall.
The Manchester United forward, 25, has slipped down the pecking order at Old Trafford, starting only five Premier League games under Ruben Amorim and Michael Carrick last season. For a player who arrived in 2024 for around £36.5million, his United career has stalled quickly and brutally.
Now Juventus are ready to offer him a way out.
Juve switch targets as Kolo Muani deal collapses
The Italian giants had initially set their sights on Kolo Muani, planning to prise him away from Paris Saint-Germain after his underwhelming loan spell at Tottenham. Talks dragged. Then they stalled. PSG and Juventus failed to agree a fee, and patience in Turin snapped.
Time was slipping away, and with their attack already under scrutiny, Juve tore up Plan A.
They moved straight for Zirkzee, identifying him as their new No9 and opening talks over a loan with a £30million option to buy. Roma have tracked the Dutchman for a long time and remain in the conversation, but Juventus have accelerated harder and now sit in pole position.
Luciano Spalletti’s side are described as the most serious contenders, pushing negotiations forward while others hesitate.
A striker searching for the right stage
Zirkzee’s numbers at United tell a blunt story: nine goals in 75 appearances. For a club of that size, and a fee of that magnitude, it has not been enough.
Confidence has drained. Opportunities have shrunk. With Benjamin Sesko and Mateus Cunha ahead of him and Marcus Rashford potentially returning to the fold, Zirkzee sees little room to breathe at Old Trafford.
Italy, though, is familiar ground. He spent a season on loan at Parma and then two more with Bologna, learning the rhythms and tactical demands of Serie A. Those years left a mark. He views the league as a better fit for his game, a place where his movement, touch and link-up play can matter more than raw numbers alone.
The attraction is mutual. Zirkzee is keen on a move to the Allianz Stadium, and his representatives have responded positively to Juventus’ approach.
United ready to cut their losses
United, for their part, are prepared to be pragmatic. They are willing to sanction a loan with a £30m buy option, even though that would mean accepting a potential loss on their original outlay.
Inside the club there is a recognition that the proposed fee reflects his current market value. Zirkzee has not delivered the consistency expected, and with clear competition for places in attack, this is one of the few deals that suits all sides.
If Juventus trigger the option, United move on cleanly. If they do not, they still benefit from a season in which their player has had regular football at the top level.
Juventus in urgent need of goals
The urgency in Turin is real. Dusan Vlahovic has departed on a free transfer, stripping the squad of its primary reference point in attack. Jonathan David, expected to shoulder more responsibility, has struggled badly in front of goal, scoring just six times in 35 Serie A games last season.
That return has left Juve short of punch and short of ideas. They need a forward who can both finish and knit together their play in the final third. Zirkzee, with his knowledge of the league and his profile as a technical centre-forward, ticks enough boxes for them to move decisively.
Juventus have made their play. Zirkzee wants the move. United are open to it.
Now the question is simple: will this be the reset that finally unlocks the forward the Italian game always suspected he could become?
