Manchester United invested in signing Joshua Zirkzee over the summer but the move has yet to really pay dividends for the Dutchman.
Rasmus Hojlund needed support in the final third after an up and down first season at Manchester United.
United simply had to invest in a new striker and Bologna’s Joshua Zirkzee was the man brought in.
United paid around £36million to sign Zirkzee having been impressed with his displays for Bologna last season.
Zirkzee only scored 13 goals in 53 Serie A games for Bologna though and his lack of goalscoring edge is now apparent at United too.
The 23-year-old has scored just once in 14 games across all competitions for United and has been receiving criticism of late.
Italian pundit predicts Joshua Zirkzee swap
Ruud van Nistelrooy is predicting a bright future for Zirkzee and believes that he simply needs time to become a success at United.
There have even been mentions of a swift return to Italian football.
Zirkzee has been touted for a move to Juventus with his former Bologna boss Thiago Motta in charge there.
That suggestion has popped up again in Italy with former Juventus and Fiorentina man Massimo Orlando predicting a swap deal.
Speaking to Tuttomercatoweb, Orlando suggested that Motta just isn’t a fan of Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic.
Pundit Orlando ‘wouldn’t be surprised’ if Vlahovic was sent to United with Zirkzee heading to Juve in exchange, giving Motta a striker he knows well and sending a striker to United in exchange.
“He is not at all happy with Vlahovic, who has also scored goals, I wouldn’t be surprised if there was a change in that position in January, with the Serbian to United and Zirkzee to Juve,” said Orlando.
Manchester United have shown Dusan Vlahovic interest
Vlahovic has started 15 games for Juventus in Serie A and the Champions League, firing nine goals in the process.
The 24-year-old is a very different type of striker to Vlahovic though and doesn’t have nearly as much interest in dropping deep as Zirkzee did under Motta.
Vlahovic has been described as ‘extraordinary’ by Juve hero Alessio Tacchinardi whilst speaking to Tutto Juve, but he may not be to Motta’s taste.
United have shown an interest in Vlahovic in the past too.
Reports in January 2023 suggested that Vlahovic wanted to join United and play for Erik ten Hag.
United were also keen on Vlahovic ahead of the last January window, so he has at least been on the radar.
If Juventus came to United with such an offer, it may be the kind of deal United at least consider, but we would be surprised to see Ineos giving up on Zirkzee so quickly.
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