United prepare for Zirkzee exit as Matanovic emerges as target
Manchester United are already planning for life without Joshua Zirkzee, with the Dutch forward edging towards the Old Trafford exit door after a flat spell in England.
Nine goals in 75 appearances tell the story. For a player signed to lead the line, it never quite clicked. Now Fiorentina are advancing in talks over a move back to Serie A, and Zirkzee is understood to be pushing for the switch after struggling to impose himself under the spotlight.
That leaves Michael Carrick short up front and scouring the market for a new focal point.
United turn to 6ft 5in Matanovic
Attention has fixed on Freiburg’s towering striker, Igor Matanovic. Standing at 6ft 5in and coming off a breakout season in Germany, the 23-year-old has been identified as the ideal replacement, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport.
Signed from Eintracht Frankfurt for £6.9m, Matanovic delivered a strong debut campaign with Freiburg, hitting 15 goals in all competitions and helping Julian Schuster’s side reach the Europa League final, where they fell to Aston Villa. No trophy, but a statement season.
His profile has only risen since. He went goalless in three outings at the summer World Cup, yet has exploded into the new campaign. A recent brace in Freiburg’s DFB-Pokal win over Dusseldorf underlined a striker in rhythm and ready for a bigger stage.
Tottenham step into the frame
United, though, are not alone. Far from it.
Tottenham have also registered serious interest in the Croatian forward. Roberto De Zerbi wants more height and presence in his frontline, even with Dominic Solanke and Richarlison already on the books. Matanovic, with his aerial dominance and penalty-box instincts, fits that brief perfectly.
What looked like a straightforward opportunity for United is starting to feel like a race.
Fiorentina’s domino effect
And then there is Fiorentina, the club at the centre of this transfer chain.
Fabio Grosso’s side are pushing to land Zirkzee, but they are also tracking Matanovic as a possible alternative. La Viola are actively searching for a replacement for Moise Kean, who is set to join Cesc Fabregas at Como.
If talks for Zirkzee stall, Fiorentina are ready to pivot. A move for Matanovic from the Italian side would ignite a three-way battle with United and Spurs, driving up both the fee and the urgency as Tuesday’s deadline looms.
United light through the middle
United’s pursuit of a new number nine comes against the backdrop of a wider rebuild.
Rasmus Hojlund has already been sold to Napoli, leaving Carrick’s squad light in central attacking areas. Youri Tielemans and Carlos Baleba have been successfully integrated into midfield, adding control and energy, but the lack of a ruthless finisher was brutally exposed in a shock 2-0 defeat to Hull City.
The need is obvious. The timing is tight.
Negotiations over Zirkzee’s exit are progressing, with Fiorentina confident of securing a season-long loan. Offloading the Dutchman would free up both funds and a crucial squad slot, clearing the way for United to table a formal offer for Matanovic before the window closes.
A Mandzukic echo – and a defining late-window story
Matanovic’s blend of size, aggression and penalty-box craft has already drawn comparisons with Croatian legend Mario Mandzukic. For United, his arrival would mark a deliberate shift towards a more physical, old-school presence up front – a different kind of threat to what they have fielded in recent seasons.
But with Tottenham lurking, Fiorentina circling, and the clock ticking, this is no gentle negotiation.
As the deadline approaches, the fight for Matanovic’s signature is shaping up to be one of the window’s defining battles – and could yet decide whose season catches fire, and whose stalls before it even starts.
