Joshua Zirkzee edges closer to Fiorentina as Manchester United exit looms
Joshua Zirkzee is edging towards the Old Trafford exit – and Fiorentina are moving fast to pull him out of limbo.
The Manchester United striker has agreed personal terms with the Serie A club, according to Italian journalist Damiano Er Faina, in what looks increasingly like a decisive break from a stagnant spell in England.
Carrick’s message: you’re not in the plan
The turning point came on the opening day of the Premier League season. United were chasing a goal against Hull City, short on ideas, short on punch. Zirkzee stayed rooted to the bench.
For a 25-year-old forward already struggling for minutes under Michael Carrick since the manager’s arrival in January, the snub cut deep. It also spoke loudly. Carrick’s selection made it clear: Zirkzee is no longer part of the core attacking plan.
The Dutchman has now accepted that reality. Rather than endure another year as a peripheral figure, he is ready to move on.
Italy calls again
If he does go, it will not be into the unknown. Zirkzee’s name still carries weight in Serie A after his eye-catching stint at Bologna, where his blend of technique, movement and creativity earned admirers across the peninsula.
For a long time, Juventus and Napoli were painted as the natural landing spots should he return to Italy. That picture has changed. Fiorentina have surged to the front of the queue and now look the most likely to get the deal done.
The Viola are preparing to sell Moise Kean to Como, who have tracked the striker for months. That sale would clear both budget and squad space for a new forward, and sporting director Fabio Paratici is pushing to capitalise.
Paratici, formerly of Tottenham and Juventus, wants Zirkzee as a key addition to Fabio Grosso’s squad. With an agreement on personal terms reportedly in place, Fiorentina have taken the first major step.
One obstacle remains: a deal with Manchester United. The clock is ticking toward Tuesday’s transfer deadline, and Fiorentina still need to find the right formula and fee to satisfy the Premier League club.
United’s problem: who comes in?
For United, the likely departure creates a different kind of urgency. If the club sign off on Zirkzee’s exit, they need a replacement – and they need one quickly.
The market is thin this late in the window. United are not looking to blow a huge fee on a striker who will sit behind Benjamin Sesko, who is firmly established as the first-choice centre-forward. The search is for a reliable deputy, not a marquee name.
Jean-Philippe Mateta has emerged as one option. The 29-year-old Crystal Palace forward fits the profile of a physically strong, experienced Premier League striker. Palace, though, are still holding out for a significant fee despite his contract running down, complicating any move.
Alexander Sorloth offers a different route. At 30, the Norwegian is seen as more attainable, with his situation at Atletico Madrid far from central to their plans despite his strong reputation. If United want a powerful, ready-made squad striker without entering a bidding war, Sorloth could prove the more realistic target.
For now, the pieces are still shifting. Fiorentina have made their play, Zirkzee is ready to go, and United are left to juggle outgoing talks with the search for a new No 2 behind Sesko.
The question is no longer whether Zirkzee will move. It’s whether United can turn his departure into an opportunity, rather than another hole in an attack that already looks light on answers.
