Joshua Zirkzee remains a top target for sides in Serie A, where he spent two years with Bologna before signing for Manchester United last August.
Indeed, the forward is not short of interest by any means in the build-up to the mid-season transfer window.
Fabrizio Romano has revealed (via GiveMeSport) that United’s No.11 has received approaches from ‘several clubs’ over the last nine months, one of which was Juventus, who were ‘insisting like crazy’ to sign Zirkzee on loan with an option to buy.
United, meanwhile, have closed off the prospect of parting ways with Zirkzee, even if he is currently not considered a starter in Ruben Amorim’s system.
Zirkzee has played a total of 77 minutes in all competitions this campaign. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
In 2025/2026 thus far, the Dutch international has made just two Premier League appearances, neither of which came from the off.
He replaced the injured Matheus Cunha in the first half of United’s win over Burnley prior to the international break and made a 10-minute cameo in the subsequent defeat to Manchester City at the Etihad.
Additionally, Zirkzee played only eight minutes in the closing stages of United’s calamitous Carabao Cup display at Blundell Park; they were knocked out in just the second round of the competition to League Two outfit Grimsby Town.
Romano adds that two Italian teams directly contacted United in the summer window to gauge the feasibility of him leaving, whilst Napoli and Inter Milan also expressed tentative interest.
Nothing progressed, as both parties, the club and Zirkzee, ‘wanted to continue together’.
However, you’d have to question whether the 24-year-old will maintain such a stance if he continues watching on from the substitutes’ bench most weeks.
The World Cup 2026 is now on the horizon, which has given all players even more incentive to be at their best and perform to a high level on a match-by-match basis in hopes of representing their nations at the tournament. For Zirkzee, who’s earned six senior caps for the Netherlands, the situation will be no different.
The same suitors who were in the mix in recent months are expected to revive their pursuit in January, with Romano claiming Zirkzee is ‘one case to watch out for in 2026’.
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