Juventus Target Joshua Zirkzee After Kolo Muani Talks Stall

Juventus have turned their full attention to Joshua Zirkzee after seeing a move for Randal Kolo Muani fall apart, with the Manchester United forward emerging as their leading candidate to spearhead a rebuilt attack.

The 25-year-old has slipped down the pecking order at Old Trafford, starting only five Premier League games under Ruben Amorim and Michael Carrick last season, and now finds himself on the brink of an exit just two years after arriving for around £36.5million.

From stalled talks to a new No9

Juventus had been deep in negotiations with Paris Saint-Germain over Kolo Muani following the Frenchman’s underwhelming loan spell at Tottenham. For a time, the deal looked close. Then it dragged. Then it stalled.

Frustration grew in Turin. The hierarchy felt the talks were moving too slowly and feared they were wasting valuable weeks in a crucial summer for their forward line.

So they pivoted. Quickly.

Zirkzee is now at the top of their list, with Juve pushing to take him on loan with a £30m option to buy. That figure represents a hit on what United paid in 2024, but officials at Old Trafford accept it reflects his current value after a stop-start spell in England.

A striker searching for the right stage

Nine goals in 75 appearances for United is a thin return for a striker of Zirkzee’s talent and price tag. Confidence has ebbed away, minutes have dried up, and his route back into the team looks blocked.

Benjamin Sesko and Mateus Cunha are ahead of him in the central striking roles, while Marcus Rashford could also come back into the fold this season. Zirkzee is no longer a project; he’s a spare part.

Italy, though, is familiar ground. He knows Serie A from a season on loan at Parma and two years leading the line for Bologna, where his blend of link-up play and intelligence between the lines looked far more at home in a league that prizes tactical nuance.

Zirkzee views Serie A as a better fit for his game. Juventus, in particular, appeals. A big club, a clear need up front, a league he understands. The move makes sense on paper and, crucially, in his mind.

Juventus push hardest as Roma lurk

Roma have tracked Zirkzee for some time and retain an interest, but Juventus have moved with greater urgency. Their need is sharper, their intent clearer.

Dusan Vlahovic has departed on a free transfer, leaving a gaping hole at centre-forward. Jonathan David, brought in to help ease that burden, has struggled badly, scoring just six times in 35 Serie A appearances last season.

Juve cannot afford another misfire in front of goal. They want a No9 who can link play, occupy defenders, and grow into the role. Zirkzee ticks those boxes, even if his numbers at United don’t yet shout “elite finisher”.

SunSport understands that Zirkzee’s representatives have responded positively to Juventus’ approach. The player is keen on the Allianz Stadium switch and sees it as the right step at this point in his career.

United ready to cut their losses

For United, this is a pragmatic call. They are prepared to sanction a loan with a £30m buy option, knowing they are unlikely to recoup the full fee they paid in 2024.

The club accepts that Zirkzee has not delivered the consistency expected, and with others ahead of him, they see little sense in keeping an unhappy, underused striker on the books. A move that frees up wages and squad space, while banking a reasonable fee down the line, suits all parties.

Juventus, meanwhile, are desperate for a focal point. Their attack needs a new face, a new idea, a new rhythm.

If Zirkzee walks out at the Allianz as their new No9, the question will be simple: is this the stage where his talent finally turns into the numbers his career has always promised?