Juventus hope to copy Rashford deal for Zirkzee and eye two Chelsea alternatives
Quick summary
Juventus are exploring a loan deal for Manchester United's Joshua Zirkzee, inspired by the Marcus Rashford loan model, while also considering two Chelsea strikers as alternatives.
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Attributed to original sourceSunday’s reports claim that Juventus are hoping to secure a deal for Joshua Zirkzee in a similar style to how Barcelona signed Marcus Rashford from Manchester United last summer, and that the Bianconeri are also keeping an eye on two alternative options at Chelsea in case a move for the Dutchman falls through.
Juventus aiming for Zirkzee loan but also eyeing Delap and Emegha It has been a busy few days for Juventus in the transfer market, with Randal Kolo Muani and Kerim Alajbegovic now both on the ground in Italy ready to complete the final formalities of their transfers to the Old Lady.
They are set to become Juve’s third and fourth signings of the summer following the previous arrivals of Jeff Ekhator and Zeki Celik.
However, Luciano Spalletti does not want to stop there and is still hoping to add another attacker to his ranks following the departure of Dusan Vlahovic at the end of his contract and with Lois Openda set to join Lyon on loan.
Spalletti is reportedly keen to add another tall, physical attacker to his ranks and the 6’4 Zirkzee, who is not expected to play a major role for Manchester United under Michael Carrick, has emerged as a potential option again . The former Bologna attacker had also been linked with a return to Serie A in January.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 04: Joshua Zirkzee of Manchester United during the Premier League match between Manchester United and West Ham United at Old Trafford on December 04, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images) Recent reports in Italy have suggested that Manchester United will request a fee in the region of €35m-€40m if they are to sell Zirkzee this summer.
However, according to Sunday’s reports from La Gazzetta dello Sport, the ideal scenario for Juventus would be for a loan deal with a non-mandatory option to buy. The Pink Paper details that the Bianconeri are confident of getting a deal done in a similar way to how Barcelona secured the services of Marcus Rashford on loan last season.
La Gazzetta dello Sport adds that Juventus are also keeping an eye on developments at Chelsea, where both Liam Delap and Emmanuel Emegha could potentially become available for loans towards the end of the transfer window.
Liam Delap of England looks on ahead of the UEFA European U21 Championship Qualifying match between England and Ukraine at Vitality Stadium on October 11, 2024 in Bournemouth, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) These signing all depend, however, on Juventus finding a news home for Jonathan David. The Canada international struggled to impress during his first season in Turin in 2025-26 and Juventus are reportedly ready to cut ties, however, the player’s intention is to stay and fight for his place and prove his worth in front of the Bianconeri faithful.
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What happened
Juventus are reportedly interested in signing Joshua Zirkzee from Manchester United, looking to replicate the structure of Marcus Rashford's recent loan move. The Serie A club are weighing a loan deal with an option to buy for the Dutch-born Bosnian forward, who has struggled for playing time at Old Trafford. Additionally, Juventus have identified two Chelsea attackers as potential alternatives should the Zirkzee pursuit not materialize. The club is looking to strengthen their attacking options ahead of the upcoming window.
Chance analysis
Juventus's pursuit of Zirkzee signals a shift toward loan-based acquisitions with conditional buy options, mirroring the Rashford template and reflecting a cautious transfer approach. Zirkzee's lack of minutes at United makes a loan exit plausible, but his underwhelming goal record raises questions about his suitability as a lead striker. The Chelsea alternatives suggest Juve have backup plans, indicating they may not be fully convinced Zirkzee is the right fit. For prediction purposes, a new forward would moderately impact Juventus's attacking output depending on who arrives.
If Juventus secure Zirkzee or a Chelsea alternative on loan, their attacking depth and goal-scoring potential would receive a moderate boost for the remainder of the season.
Monitor whether Juventus finalize a striker signing before the window closes, as this could meaningfully improve their attacking threat for upcoming Serie A matches.