Juventus and Manchester United could explore a potential swap deal involving Red Devils summer signing Joshua Zirkzee, according to stunning reports.
Joshua Zirkzee has struggled to settle in at Manchester United after the Premier League club signed him from Serie A outfit Bologna last summer.
The 23-year-old Dutch forward arrived at Old Trafford in July 2023 as part of a deal worth £36.54m, but Zirkzee has faced heavy criticism in his debut season at United.
Zirkzee has managed 27 appearances across all competitions for United this season and the Netherlands international has netted four times and registered two assists.
The United striker was left fighting for regular first-team minutes under Erik ten Hag before the former Red Devils boss was sacked in late October.
Zirkzee has often played second fiddle to Rasmus Hojlund and the Netherlands striker’s difficulties at Old Trafford have continued under Ruben Amorim.
Juventus and Man Utd over Zirkzee
Joshua Zirkzee’s disappointing debut season at Old Trafford took another turn for the worse after Manchester United’s 2-0 defeat to Newcastle on Monday.
The former Bologna man was deployed as one of the two No 10s and lasted only 33 minutes before Ruben Amorim withdrew him for Kobbie Mainoo.
Zirkzee was spotted receiving his coat in the dugout before the United summer signing walked down the touchline and disappeared down the Old Trafford tunnel.
The United star later reappeared and took his place in the dugout, but Zirkzee’s long-term future under Red Devils manager Amorim has been cast in doubt.
Zirkzee has been heavily linked with Juventus and a move to Turin could reunite the struggling Dutch forward with former Bologna manager Thiago Motta.
United are keen to offload players in a bid to free up wages and funds to sign new players for Amorim after his arrival from Sporting CP in November.
According to Sport Witness, United are keen to ‘recoup their spend’ on Zirkzee and Juventus have offered a ‘loan deal with various clauses at this point.’
Juventus could offer player for Zirkzee
It is believed that a straight player-swap deal between United and Juventus could allow Zirkzee to make his exit from Old Trafford in January.
According to Enrico Camelio, Juventus would be willing to use Serbia striker Dusan Vlahovic as part of a potential player swap with United for Zirkzee.
“We understand that the footballer [Zirkzee] is not at all happy in Manchester, he has not settled in and is not doing well,” the reporter told Radio Radio.
“In Italy, he had done well in Parma and then very well in Bologna precisely with Motta.
“We are working on it, but there is an idea of an exchange between Vlahovic and Zirkzee, let’s see how the situation evolves.
“The idea is plausible; the Dutchman would find the coach who consecrated him again.”
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