Fiorentina Leads Juventus in Race for Joshua Zirkzee
Joshua Zirkzee’s Manchester United chapter is drifting towards its conclusion, and Serie A is queuing up to reopen the door.
Both Fiorentina and Juventus want the former Bologna forward, but right now it is La Viola who are pressing harder and, crucially, are closer to getting Manchester United to the table, according to the latest reports from Italy.
United ready to move on
United are expected to sanction Zirkzee’s exit before the transfer window closes. The logic is brutal but clear. Opportunities have dried up.
The 25-year-old started just five Premier League games last season. On the opening weekend of the 2026-27 campaign, away at newly-promoted Hull City, he did not even get off the bench, watching the entire match as an unused substitute.
The path back into Erik ten Hag’s plans looks even more congested now that Marcus Rashford has returned from his loan spell at Barcelona. With Rashford back in the attacking mix, Zirkzee slides further down the pecking order at Old Trafford.
For a forward who proved he can carry an attack in Italy, that is not a sustainable situation.
Serie A remembers
Clubs in Italy have not forgotten what Zirkzee did with Bologna.
In 2023-24, he hit 11 goals in Serie A, leading the line with a blend of touch, movement and presence that made him one of the league’s more intriguing forwards. That season turned him into a serious asset, and it is that version of Zirkzee that Fiorentina and Juventus are trying to bring back.
Both clubs have explored ways to structure a deal, both see him as a ready-made solution rather than a long-term project.
The difference lies in timing and flexibility.
Fiorentina need an answer now
Fiorentina’s need is immediate. Moise Kean, their Italy international centre-forward, is on the verge of joining Champions League side Como in a €40m move. Once that deal is completed, Vincenzo Italiano will be without his primary reference point in attack.
La Viola do not have the luxury of waiting around. They need a replacement who knows the league, can adapt quickly, and can step straight into a Europa-chasing side. Zirkzee ticks every box.
That urgency has pushed Fiorentina to the front of the queue. La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that the Tuscan club are currently in the strongest position to reach an agreement with Manchester United.
Juventus held back by their own puzzle
Juventus, by contrast, are still juggling pieces.
They remain in the market for another attacker and admire Zirkzee’s profile, but their pursuit is conditional. Before they can move decisively, they likely need to shift Jonathan David and clear space both in the squad and on the wage bill.
Until that happens, Juve’s interest in Zirkzee sits in the “if-then” column. Fiorentina’s interest is already in the “now.”
That contrast is shaping the race.
As the window ticks down, the choice for Zirkzee sharpens: wait for Juventus to untangle their situation, or ride the momentum of Fiorentina’s push and reclaim centre stage in Serie A with a club that wants him to lead the line immediately.
