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Manchester United's efforts to offload striker Joshua Zirkzee look set to extend to Deadline Day, with reports confirming the Dutchman has rejected an approach from Fiorentina.
According to Fabrizio Romano, despite the Serie A club's readiness to match United's asking price, Zirkzee has personally declined the opportunity to join Fiorentina before the summer transfer window shuts.
Zirkzee sits firmly at the top of United's list of players earmarked for sale, having featured for just 127 minutes since Michael Carrick's appointment earlier this year. He has been an unused substitute in both of the club's opening Premier League fixtures this season, falling behind Matheus Cunha, Marcus Rashford, Benjamin Šeško and Bryan Mbeumo in the squad hierarchy.
Interest in the 25-year-old persists—Gianluca Di Marzio reports that discussions with Juventus are continuing—but with the transfer window nearing its close, a departure for Zirkzee is anything but certain.
Why Man Utd Need to Offload Zirkzee
It has been no secret that Zirkzee's days at United are numbered. While he has been edged further toward the exit during Carrick's reign, he was rarely a first-choice option under predecessor Ruben Amorim, and a move away last summer had also appeared to be on the cards.
United cannot afford to retain peripheral players like Zirkzee on their wage bill—especially when revenue needs to be generated to fund new acquisitions.
Having invested heavily in midfield reinforcements, United's next priority is understood to be left back, where Luke Shaw remains the squad's only natural fit. However, that costly spending spree has left limited budget for further additions.
Newcastle United's Lewis Hall is believed to be the primary target, but the fee required to secure such a deal is well beyond the Red Devils' current financial means. Likewise, Barcelona's Alejandro Balde has also been reported as too costly to pursue.
Selling Zirkzee is one of the few clear routes for United to generate the necessary funds, but the process is evidently not going as planned.
Why Have Man Utd Not Sold Any Senior Players This Summer?
Despite the significant outlay on new signings this summer, United have yet to generate any income from the sale of senior players. Rasmus Højlund's pre-agreed transfer to Napoli was completed in July, but reserve goalkeeper Radek Vítek's move to Middlesbrough and young midfielder Toby Collyer's switch to West Bromwich Albion remain the only other permanent exits from Old Trafford to date.
United allowed Casemiro, Tyrell Malacia and Jadon Sancho to leave on free transfers, while goalkeepers André Onana and Altay Bayındır have both departed on loan arrangements.
Club executives had anticipated more outgoings this summer. Zirkzee's departure was expected to be more straightforward, Manuel Ugarte had been available prior to his serious knee injury, and few anticipated Marcus Rashford still being at Old Trafford after his loan spell with Barcelona concluded.
Barring any unexpected developments, no further players are expected to leave United before Tuesday's deadline, heaping pressure on Zirkzee to finalise an exit that, at this point, appears more likely to be a loan than a permanent transfer.
United's difficulties in the selling market can be attributed to two key factors. First, the absence of European football last season meant a leaner squad was sufficient, but that is no longer the case following their return to the Champions League. With fewer fringe players available, United were always going to be net spenders this summer as they look to bolster their ranks.
However, the failure to secure permanent deals for several players who departed on loans or free transfers is rooted in United's past transfer missteps and their inability to provide those players with a meaningful platform.
Sancho, for instance, commanded enormous wages that made finding a buyer virtually impossible. That same issue has complicated Rashford's situation despite his strong performances on the pitch. Onana and Bayındır both carry damaged reputations following a string of poor seasons, making the finances of a permanent sale unworkable for any club willing to take a chance on either goalkeeper.
Zirkzee's market value appears somewhat stronger as a 25-year-old who, just two years ago, was delivering impressive performances in Serie A with Bologna. A move should still materialise before Tuesday's deadline, though it is unlikely to command the fee United had originally hoped for when the window opened.