Manchester United don enter serious talks with Juventus for di future of Joshua Zirkzee, as di Dutch striker bin don turn down move to Fiorentina. According to reports, di Red Devils dey open for di attacker to leave before Tuesday 11pm deadline, and Juventus dey at di front of di queue.
Zirkzee, wey join United from Bologna for £36.5million in 2024, don become surplus to requirement under Michael Carrick. Di 25-year-old bin don drop down di pecking order, with Matheus Cunha dey start as first-choice centre-forward and Benjamin Sesko dey come from bench. Zirkzee no even comot bench for di first two matches against Hull City and Ipswich Town.
Sky Sport Italy report say di two clubs dey for negotiations wey be say dem dey full swing. Juventus don submit loan offer of £2.1million, plus buy option for £25.6million. But United dey try make di clause reach closer to £30million, because dem want recover more of di money wey dem pay for Bologna two years ago.
Another report from Gianluca Di Marzio say Juventus dey ready pay loan fee of €2.5million and purchase option of €30million. But Manchester United dey hold out for €35million, wey go include di loan fee plus di full transfer fee if Zirkzee leave permanent next year.
Zirkzee bin don reject Fiorentina, wey bin wan take am on loan with €5million fee and €30million purchase option. Instead, Fiorentina don move to sign Beto from Everton. Zirkzee dey keen to join Juventus, and e dey wait for di deal to happen.
Michael Carrick, wey be United boss, talk after Sunday’s win against Ipswich: “It’s always difficult to say, to be honest, when there’s so little time left, but we’re always open if there’s something else to be able to add. I wouldn’t shut that down but, as it stands, we’ll have to wait and see.”
If Zirkzee remain at Old Trafford, e fit get more first-team opportunities because of di busy schedule. But with Marcus Rashford don come back and Shea Lacey dey emerge, e fit only get cup appearances and bench cameos. Juventus dey also look at Nick Woltemade from Newcastle United, as dem dey try strengthen dia attack.
United need money to finance new signings, especially for left back position. Luke Shaw be di only natural option, and dem dey dream of Lewis Hall from Newcastle. But di funds no dey reach, and Barcelona‘s Alejandro Balde too expensive. So dem dey look to sell some players.
Already, Rasmus Højlund don go Napoli, Radek Vítek don join Middlesbrough, and Toby Collyer don move to West Bromwich Albion. Casemiro, Tyrell Malacia, and Jadon Sancho all leave on free transfers. André Onana and Altay Bayındır don go on loan.
Zirkzee’s exit dey expected to be simpler, but e don become drama. United dey struggle to sell players because of high wages and poor form. For Zirkzee, e still get market, but di deal fit be loan instead of permanent. Di transfer window for Serie A go close Tuesday evening at 20:00, so time dey run out for Juventus to agree with United.
