Joshua Zirkzee's Man Utd Fate Finally Takes Shape

If Joshua Zirkzee is eyeing a move away from Manchester United this summer, the prospect of Juventus serving as his next destination has all but faded.

Zirkzee arrived from Serie A following an impressive stint at Bologna, making a return to Italian football seem like a logical fit for the towering Dutch forward.

The 25-year-old has delivered some memorable moments, but he has struggled to truly cement himself at United, and last season he was hampered by the club playing just 40 games across all competitions—a result of no European football and early exits in domestic cup rounds.

There simply wasn't enough playing time to go around the entire squad. That picture will shift dramatically in 2026–27, with at least eight additional fixtures due to the Champions League league phase, and potentially even more beyond that.

Why Zirkzee Joining Juventus Is Now Unlikely

Reports earlier this week highlighted Juventus' interest in Zirkzee. The Turin club lost Dušan Vlahović at the end of June after failing to agree on a new deal with the Serbian striker.

However, since then, Fabrizio Romano has reported that a move to bring Randal Kolo Muani to Turin is nearly finalized. The loan with an obligation to buy will ultimately cost Juve an estimated $51.4 million (€45 million), offering a glimpse into the club's financial constraints. Serie A no longer commands the financial dominance it enjoyed from the 1980s through the 2000s, and payment for Kolo Muani is effectively being structured in installments.

Earlier this summer, Juve were already hit with a $45.7 million (€40 million) obligation on Loïs Openda as part of his loan agreement from RB Leipzig. The Belgian striker has since departed on loan to Lyon for $4 million (€3.5 million) after managing just one Serie A goal last season.

Patrick Berger of Sky Sport Germany also reported on Wednesday that a deal for Bayer Leverkusen winger Kerim Alajbegović, starting at $37.7 million (€33 million), is in the "final stages."

It is becoming increasingly improbable that Juventus will have the financial flexibility to also pursue Zirkzee.

The Athletic reported this week that Manchester United are "open to selling" Zirkzee—a stance that is notably different from actively pushing him out the door.

Interest from Ajax is not expected to develop further after the Amsterdam club completed two other signings. Two unnamed Premier League sides have also made inquiries about Zirkzee, but whether anything materializes before the transfer window shuts on September 1 remains to be seen.

Zirkzee's Role at Man Utd Explained

Zirkzee has always seemed somewhat misread since his arrival at Manchester United. The Dutchman is a versatile attacker who can operate across multiple positions, yet his imposing frame often leads supporters to mistakenly label him as a powerful, traditional No. 9.

Zirkzee's game is built on something different. While he may share physical similarities with Erling Haaland, he prefers to drop into deeper areas and contribute to build-up play rather than lurking near goal waiting for chances. Zirkzee excels in tight spaces with the ball at his feet and possesses the vision of a creator—qualities both evident when he scored one and set up another as United dismantled Rosenborg in a preseason fixture last Friday.

Rather than serving as a backup to Benjamin Šeško in a penalty-box role, he is better suited as cover for Bruno Fernandes in the No. 10 position, or even as a false nine who creates space for runners in behind—as demonstrated when he teed up Shea Lacey to net against Rosenborg.

But with Fernandes rarely absent and Matheus Cunha providing stiff competition, carving out a consistent role was never going to be straightforward.