Manchester United forward Joshua Zirkzee is reportedly being offered an escape route from Old Trafford by Juventus, just months after his summer move.
New United boss Ruben Amorim is said to be “unconvinced” by the Dutch striker, who has struggled to make an impact at United since his £37million transfer from Bologna.
The 23-year-old has scored just once in 16 appearances, prompting doubts over his suitability for the Premier League.
His playing time has diminished under interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy, who has mainly used him as a substitute in recent matches.
Zirkzee’s last Premier League start came in September during United’s 3-0 loss to Tottenham.
Despite having signed a five-year contract only months ago, Zirkzee could already be on his way out, with Calciomercato reporting that Juventus are considering a move for him in January.
A move to Turin would reunite Zirkzee with his former Bologna manager, Thiago Motta, who helped him flourish last season, scoring 12 goals in 37 appearances.
Motta is reportedly looking for a backup striker to support Dusan Vlahovic, with Arkadiusz Milik’s future uncertain and Nico Gonzalez often sidelined due to injury.
The report further suggests that Amorim, who took over at Juventus this summer, remains unsure about Zirkzee’s long-term fit in his plans. Initial reports indicated that Erik ten Hag was not keen on signing Zirkzee, and Amorim is said to be considering other forward options. One name linked with Juventus is Viktor Gyokeres, the prolific striker from Sporting Lisbon who has netted 23 goals in just 18 games this season.
United, however, are reportedly only willing to loan Joshua Zirkzee out after investing a significant sum to bring him to Old Trafford. The club still views him as a potential long-term asset. Juventus are reportedly open to taking Zirkzee on loan, with the possibility of including an obligation to purchase him next summer, should talks over Vlahovic’s future fail to progress.
Zirkzee began his career at Bayern Munich before going on loan to Parma and Anderlecht. He joined Bologna on a permanent deal in 2022, where he scored 14 goals across two seasons before making the switch to Manchester United.
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