Three Italian clubs are monitoring Zirkzee, with Juventus currently the most concrete in negotiations
Manchester, England – Joshua Zirkzee is once again at the center of the Italian transfer market. Juventus, Roma and Como are monitoring the situation of the 25-year-old Manchester United striker, and according to reports published on July 28 and 29, 2026, the Turin club has currently taken the most concrete steps toward a possible agreement. Manchester United have not officially announced that the Dutchman has been put up for sale, nor has it been confirmed that a formal offer has been received, but several sources state that the English club are prepared to listen to proposals that would enable the player to leave the squad permanently. In such a scenario, a return to Serie A, where Zirkzee produced the best performances of his career, is emerging as a realistic option before the end of the summer transfer window.
La Gazzetta dello Sport reported that Juventus have intensified contacts with Zirkzee's representatives in recent days and that discussions are taking place over the financial and contractual structure of a possible transfer. ESPN also reported that the Turin club have registered concrete interest, while Manchester United remain open to offers. According to the available information, the English club's valuation ranges between 35 and 40 million euros. That figure has not been officially confirmed, but it appears in several reports and represents the framework within which negotiations could develop.
United want to protect the player's value
The key issue is not only the size of the transfer fee, but also the structure of the deal. Reports from Italy and England indicate that Manchester United would prefer a permanent transfer or a loan containing an obligation to buy once clearly defined conditions have been met. Such a structure would allow the English club to immediately free up part of their sporting and financial capacity, while also reducing the risk of the player returning after one season without his long-term status having been resolved. Juventus, according to the same sources, would prefer to retain greater flexibility and agree on an option to buy, but it is not ruled out that they would accept a mandatory purchase if the activation conditions were achievable.
The difference between an option and an obligation to buy in this case is not a technical detail, but the central point of the negotiations. A loan with an option to buy would leave Juventus with the possibility of assessing Zirkzee's performances, physical condition and integration into the team after the season, without a final obligation to pay the full transfer fee. Manchester United, on the other hand, would assume a greater share of the risk under such an arrangement because the player's value could fall further if his playing time or performances in Italy did not reach the expected level. For that reason, an obligation to buy linked to the number of appearances, qualification for European competitions or other sporting criteria is being mentioned as a possible compromise, although the details of such a formula have not currently been officially confirmed.
Zirkzee arrived in Manchester from Bologna in July 2024, and the Italian club officially confirmed his permanent transfer to United at the time. The English club still list him as a member of the first team, as also shown by the official player list for the 2026/27 season. This means United have no need to accept the first offer, particularly if they assess that the striker is important for squad depth at the start of the season. At the same time, limited playing time during the past two years and interest from several clubs are creating room for a solution that would suit all parties.
Juventus are looking for a striker, and Zirkzee is one of the main options
Juventus' interest should be viewed in the wider context of their search for a new center-forward. La Gazzetta dello Sport states that the Turin club are considering several names in parallel and that Zirkzee is high on the list of options while other negotiations, including the situation surrounding Randal Kolo Muani, remain unresolved. What makes the Dutchman attractive to Juventus is that he knows Serie A, understands the footballing language of the Italian championship and can play as a traditional number nine, but also as a striker who drops between the lines and participates in the build-up. His profile differs from that of a purely finishing striker, which could offer the coach more tactical solutions.
According to Gazzetta's report from July 28, Juventus intensified talks with Zirkzee's representative and are exploring whether a loan agreement can be reached. A day later, several media outlets reported that contacts were progressing, but the available information does not confirm that the clubs have reached an agreement on the price or a mandatory purchase. This is an important distinction: discussions with the player's representatives may demonstrate his openness to a transfer, but the deal cannot be completed without an agreement between the clubs. At this moment, Juventus appear to be the most active candidate, although negotiations are still at the stage of shaping an offer.
For Zirkzee, Turin would represent a return to an environment in which he has already proved that he can be an important player. In the 2023/24 season, he helped Bologna qualify for the Champions League, while Lega Serie A named him the championship's best player under the age of 23. Manchester United also note in their official profile that he was included in the Italian league's team of the season. It is precisely this combination of technical quality, Serie A experience and an age that still leaves room for development that is one of the main reasons Italian clubs continue to believe his value could rise again.
Roma and Como remain in the race, but without a confirmed formal offer
Roma and Como have also been linked with Zirkzee, although there is currently no credible confirmation that either of the two clubs has submitted an official offer to Manchester United. Roma's interest is not new: the Roman club also monitored the Dutchman during previous transfer windows, and Italian media have repeatedly stated that the sporting management view him as a striker capable of linking midfield with the final phase of attacks. The financial structure of a potential deal would be particularly important because a transfer fee of 35 to 40 million euros, together with salary and commissions, would represent a substantial investment. For that reason, Roma would probably also have to consider a loan with a subsequent purchase or the sale of one of their existing players before making a final move.
Como have positioned themselves as an ambitious Serie A club in recent seasons, and their name also appeared in the current story in a Football Today report from July 27, which referred to information about the club entering the race for Zirkzee. Como's official website confirms that the team already have several attacking options, including Álvaro Morata and Anastasios Douvikas, so the possible arrival of the Dutchman would represent additional investment in the quality and depth of the squad. However, there is no confirmation that Como are prepared to accept United's valuation or the terms of a mandatory purchase. Their interest should therefore currently be described as monitoring the situation rather than as a deal close to completion.
A comparison of the three interested clubs shows why Juventus are currently ahead. According to the available reports, the Turin club are already talking to the player's representatives, are actively searching for a striker and are considering a concrete transfer formula. Roma and Como have sporting reasons to enter negotiations, but their next steps will probably depend on outgoing transfers, their budgets and Manchester United's willingness to offer more flexible terms. Until an official offer arrives, none of these expressions of interest guarantees that Zirkzee will actually leave England.
Šeško's recovery may determine the timing of the decision
The fitness of Benjamin Šeško adds another dimension to the entire situation. The Slovenian striker missed Manchester United's first two preseason matches while undergoing a rehabilitation program following a shin injury sustained at the end of the previous season. Goal and other British sources reported that his recovery is progressing according to plan and that he is expected to return before the start of the new Premier League season. Until Šeško is fully ready for a complete training and competitive rhythm, Zirkzee provides United with an important alternative in the center-forward position.
This explains why the final decision could be delayed even if Juventus soon present an acceptable offer structure. The Manchester club must balance market logic with sporting risk: selling Zirkzee too early could leave the team with too few reliable options if Šeško's return is slower than expected or a new fitness problem emerges. On the other hand, waiting until the final days of the transfer window could weaken their negotiating position if interested clubs sign other strikers in the meantime. The assessment of the medical and coaching staff will therefore play an important role in determining the timing of a possible transfer.
United's official list of forwards for the 2026/27 season includes Šeško, Zirkzee, Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and several younger players, but they do not all have the same role or characteristics. Zirkzee is one of the few who can take on the duties of a traditional center-forward while also dropping deeper to link play. His departure would therefore not be only a financial decision, but also a change to the structure of the attack. Before approving a transfer, United would have to be certain that the existing squad can cover his minutes or that a suitable replacement is available on the market.
The numbers in England have not matched the reputation from Bologna
Zirkzee's spell at Old Trafford has so far not reached the level of expectations created after his final season with Bologna. According to official Premier League data, he made 56 appearances in the English championship during his first two seasons with Manchester United, scoring five goals and providing two assists. La Gazzetta dello Sport lists a total of 75 appearances, nine goals and four assists in all competitions, with 2,901 minutes played. Those figures show that he frequently participated in matches, but much less often as a player with consistent full-match involvement and a clear status as the first-choice striker.
His start in England was promising. Zirkzee scored the winning goal on his Premier League debut against Fulham in August 2024, and Manchester United state that he scored seven goals in all competitions during his first season. However, after the initial period, he failed to secure a permanent place in the starting lineup. Coaching changes, different system requirements, competition in attack and the physical intensity of the Premier League limited his continuity, while he received even fewer opportunities in his second season.
A return to Italy is therefore viewed not only as a departure from Manchester United, but also as an attempt to re-establish the role he had at Bologna. There, he was not exclusively a goalscorer: he participated in combinations, created space for teammates, received the ball with his back to goal and connected the attacking lines. Such a style can have great value in Serie A, particularly for teams seeking a technically strong striker capable of playing between midfield and the final defensive line. Juventus, Roma and Como may see precisely this versatility as a reason to invest despite his more modest numbers in England.
What comes next in the negotiations
In the next phase, Juventus must decide whether to submit a formal offer to Manchester United and how close they are prepared to come to the requested amount. If the Turin club maintain their position of seeking a loan with an option to buy, United could insist on stricter conditions or open the door to other interested parties. If a mandatory purchase worth approximately 35 million euros is agreed, negotiations could accelerate, provided that the player accepts the personal terms and United assess that they can continue the season without him. It is not currently known whether a preliminary agreement has been reached regarding salary, contract duration or bonuses.
Roma and Como may meanwhile attempt to take advantage of any delays in Juventus' talks. Their presence increases competition and helps Manchester United retain a stronger negotiating position, but only if the interest is converted into concrete offers. For Zirkzee himself, the sporting project and a realistic opportunity for regular playing time will be the most important factors. After two seasons in which he did not become a regular starter at Old Trafford, a new transfer would make sense only if it offered him a more stable role and a system suited to his characteristics.
As of July 29, 2026, there is no official confirmation of an agreement between Manchester United and any Italian club. The most reliable available information shows that Juventus have progressed furthest in exploring the conditions, that United prefer a permanent solution or a loan with an obligation to buy and that the value of a possible deal is estimated at between 35 and 40 million euros. Šeško's recovery and Juventus' search for a striker could be the two developments that determine the speed of the outcome. Until those elements are clarified, Zirkzee remains a Manchester United player and an important backup option ahead of the start of the new season.
Sources:
- La Gazzetta dello Sport – report on Juventus' intensified contacts with Zirkzee's representatives and a possible loan (link)
- La Gazzetta dello Sport – context of Juventus' search for a striker and interest in Zirkzee while talks over other options continue (link)
- ESPN – confirmation of Juventus' interest and Manchester United's openness to offers (link)
- Manchester United – official player profile, arrival date, squad status and biographical information (link)
- Premier League – official statistics for Zirkzee's appearances, goals and assists in the English championship (link)
- Lega Serie A – official confirmation of the award for the best player under the age of 23 in the 2023/24 season (link)
- Bologna FC – official confirmation of Zirkzee's transfer to Manchester United in July 2024 (link)
- Goal – report on Šeško's recovery program and expected return before the start of the Premier League season (link)
- Football Today – report on Como's interest and their entry into the race for Zirkzee (link)