Fiorentina overtake Juventus in race for Manchester United's Zirkzee
Quick summary
Fiorentina have moved ahead of Juventus in the pursuit of Manchester United striker Joshua Zirkzee ahead of the summer transfer window.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceFiorentina and Juventus both remain interested in a potential deal for Manchester United and former Bologna forward Joshua Zirkzee, but as things stand it is La Viola who are closer to getting a deal done according to the latest updates in Italy.
Where Juventus and Fiorentina stand in Zirkzee pursuit United are expected to allow Zirkzee to leave before the close of the summer transfer window given his limited opportunities at Old Trafford over the last two years.
NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND – APRIL 01: Joshua Zirkzee of Manchester United looks on as he walks out of the tunnel to inspect the pitch prior to during the Premier League match between Nottingham Forest FC and Manchester United FC at City Ground on April 01, 2025 in Nottingham, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images) The 25-year-old started just five times in the Premier League last season and was an unused substitute for United’s opening league match of the 2026-27 season against newly-promoted Hull City last weekend.
With Marcus Rashford now back from his loan spell at Barcelona as well, Zirkzee is expected to be even further down the pecking order in the Manchester United attacking department.
Both Juventus and Fiorentina have explored potential moves to bring Zirkzee back to Serie A after scoring 11 top-flight goals in his final season with Bologna in 2023-24.
BOLOGNA, ITALY – FEBRUARY 23: Joshua Zirkzee of Bologna FC during the Serie A TIM match between Bologna FC and Hellas Verona FC – Serie A TIM at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara on February 23, 2024 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images) Juventus are still in the market for another attacker, but will likely have to find a new home for Jonathan David first, whilst Fiorentina are seeking a replacement for Italy international Moise Kean, who is all set to join Champions League club Como in a €40m deal.
Given that Juventus’s interest in Zirkzee is dependent on their having to sell players first whilst Fiorentina need a more immediate replacement, La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that the Viola are currently in the better position to strike an agreement with Manchester United.
La Gazzetta dello Sport claims that Fiorentina are willing to pay €5m to sign Zirkzee on loan for the 2026-27 season with an option to buy for an additional €25m. Zirkzee still has three years remaining on his current Manchester United contract, running until the summer of 2029.
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What happened
Fiorentina have reportedly overtaken Juventus in the race to sign Manchester United forward Joshua Zirkzee. The Dutch striker has struggled for game time at Old Trafford and is available for transfer. Juventus were long considered frontrunners for his signature, but Fiorentina's push has changed the dynamic. Zirkzee previously played in Serie A with Bologna, where he impressed before his move to Manchester United.
Chance analysis
Joshua Zirkzee's potential return to Serie A is one of the more intriguing subplots of the summer window, given his strong spell at Bologna before a difficult adaptation at Manchester United. Fiorentina's emergence ahead of Juventus signals their ambition to secure a proven Serie A scorer, and Zirkzee's familiarity with Italian football could make this a smooth fit. The outcome will shape both clubs' attacking options for the coming season.
Manchester United lose squad depth in attack; whichever Serie A club signs Zirkzee gains a proven but underperforming forward looking to rebuild his career.