Joshua Zirkzee’s Manchester United chapter is drifting towards its conclusion, and Serie A is circling. Two clubs, one clear frontrunner.
Fiorentina and Juventus both want the Dutch forward, both see the same thing: a 25-year-old who lit up Bologna with 11 league goals in 2023-24 and has since been left to gather dust at Old Trafford. But right now, it is La Viola who are moving with purpose while Juventus wait in the queue.
United Ready to Cut Ties
United’s stance is no mystery. Zirkzee has barely had a look-in. Five Premier League starts last season, nothing more than a name on the team sheet for the opening fixture of the 2026-27 campaign at Hull City, where he didn’t get off the bench.
The picture has only grown harsher for him. Marcus Rashford is back from his loan at Barcelona, immediately tightening the competition for attacking spots. For Zirkzee, the path to minutes in Manchester is blocked from every angle.
United are prepared to let him go before the window closes. The feeling around the club is that his future lies elsewhere, and the Italian market has stepped forward again.
Serie A Calls Again
Zirkzee knows Serie A, and Serie A knows him. His final season with Bologna turned him from a promising talent into a proven top-flight scorer. That campaign at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara still carries weight in Italy, and it is the foundation of this renewed chase.
Juventus have kept him firmly on their list. They want another attacker, someone who can add variety and presence up front. But there is a catch: they need to sell first. Jonathan David is the key domino there. Until the Canadian’s future is resolved and space is cleared in the squad and on the wage bill, their interest in Zirkzee remains conditional rather than concrete.
Fiorentina’s situation is far more urgent. Moise Kean is on his way to Como in a €40m move, a significant sale that rips a hole in their forward line on the eve of a demanding season. They cannot afford to wait.
Fiorentina Move Into Pole Position
That urgency has tilted the race. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Fiorentina are now in the stronger position to strike a deal with Manchester United. They have a vacancy, they have money coming in, and they have a clear need for a striker who can step straight into the side.
The dynamics are simple. Juventus are still juggling outgoings and incomings. Fiorentina are ready to act.
For Zirkzee, the decision will shape the next prime years of his career. A return to a league where he has already proved he can score, a chance to be a focal point rather than an afterthought. The door at Old Trafford is closing. In Florence, it is wide open.
