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Joshua Zirkzee on the move?

A return to Italy looks on the cards

Yuveer Madanlal
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6/1/2025
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5 min read

A low-on-confidence Joshua Zirkzee looks set to make a move back to Serie A and potentially link up with former Bologna manager Thiago Motta this time at Juventus.

CorSport are saying that Juve and Motta "have identified Zirkzee as the main target to improve their attack." They also say that "there has been an 'important opneing' in recent days" with regards to a potential move for Zirkzee to the Old Lady via The United Stand.

Furthermore, the relationship between the Dutchman and Ruben Amorim "is at an all-time low" which leaves the door open for Zirkzee to depart Old Trafford just 6 months after signing for United.

The Italian giants are looking to bring in the 23-year-old on loan however, "United 'want to sell the player permanently'".

More reports this time from Alex Crook of talkSPORT has said that Juventus are willing to offer Dusan Vlahovic as part of a swap deal for Zirkzee. The Serbian still has 18 months left on his current deal but hasn't displayed any interest in signing an extension via The United Stand.

Final Thoughts

We've known for a while now that Zirkzee could leave United as it seems that ever since he joined us in July, there has been non-stop talk about him returning to Italy.

He was meant to go to AC Milan before United swooped in and took him from the Rossonieri but after what has been a truly difficult few months, it seems that time could already be up for him at MUFC.

Due to all this news, it isn't as surprising that he appears more out than in at Old Trafford but after Amorim's positive comments regarding the forward after last night's draw at Liverpool, it does come somewhat out of the blue, especially the potential swap for Vlahovic.

Joshua Zirkzee gets substituted in the first half in Man Utd 0-2 Newcastle | Creator: Carl Recine | Credit: Getty Images Copyright: 2024 Getty Images via Goal

Post the thriller at Anfield Amorim said that "I want to keep Joshua Zirkzee because he gives everything." That quote in itself maybe a little surprising given Zirkzee's early and ruthless substitution in the defeat to Newcastle last Monday but to be fair to him, he did make some sort of impact at Anfield.

This whole situation is confusing though.

Here is a player we've only just signed, is young and is finding it difficult at United which is something to expect for a new and young player especially moving to a new country and club, but he's also coming into one of the most tumultuous clubs in football. The manager who signed him ended up getting sacked just a couple of months later which made things even more difficult.

Admittedly though, Zirkzee hasn't done enough to prove that he should be a United player yet there is still more than enough time. Since when did we all start giving up on players (young or not) so soon after joining the club? It's also not as if Zirkzee has done anything to cause hate towards him like a Di Maria.

On the other hand, if Zirkzee really wanted to make it work at United, all this news about him potentially leaving should be stopped. Whether it's him or his entourage putting it out there that he might be unhappy at United and wants a return to Italy, it should be kept on the down low.

But, I have been a huge admirer of Dusan Vlahovic since before he went to Juventus. He was a good up-and-coming striker at Fiorentina where he gained a lot of attention from household names across football. He obviously chose Juventus but at 24-years-old (soon to be 25), he still has a lot of time left in his career meaning he could be one for the future for United.

The Serbian is also more of an out-and-out goalscorer than Zirkzee or Hojlund which is exactly what we're crying out for. Those two don't appear good enough to be the main man up top whereas Vlahovic certainly could.

He has 12 goals and 2 assists this season in 23 games for Juventus. Vlahovic also doesn't have much of an injury history so is a player we can rely on.

As much as I would like it to work out with Zirkzee, if he isn't willing to try to make it work at United, then we may as well move him on now. I know that Juventus want a loan whereas we want to sell, but if he doesn't want to be part of the club, then we should be looking to move him on in some way.

To have the chance of getting Vlahovic in return, I think that would be a good deal for United. We've been linked to other strikers such as Viktor Gyokeres and Victor Osimhen (either of whom I wouldn't mind at United as well) shows that we are desperate for a true number 9.

Vlahovic can provide us with that while we remove a player that perhaps doesn't cut the mustard at United.

I also didn't realize that there could be an issue with him and Amorim. Whether this was because of the early substitution last week or a multitude of reasons, there was no real indication that there was troubling brewing between the two.

All of this non-stop talk of Zirkzee wanting to go back to Italy is a bit annoying as well and if that's the case, let's get on with it.

Would you swap Zirkzee for Vlahovic? Or would you just like to get rid of Zirkzee regardless?

Background Images: Joshua Zirkzee | Creator: Carl Recine | Credit: Getty Images Copyright: 2024 Getty Images via Goal

Dusan Vlahovic | Image credit: Getty Images via Goal

Yuveer Madanlal

Yeah, I can talk and talk and talk about the things I love, like football and United, as you can see in this post. Once I get on a roll, it's pretty hard to stop me. This is all coming from a guy who doesn't talk that much. How weird.

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