Juventus will ‘almost certainly’ be making a bid for Manchester United’s Joshua Zirkzee in January, but their proposal may not be to the Red Devils’ liking.
That’s according to both Tuttosport and La Repubblica, the latter relayed by Tutto Juve, who say the Dutchman remains on Juventus’ list of targets.
First the latter, who report that Zirkzee has ‘digested’ the recent substitution in the 33rd minute of Monday’s defeat to Newcastle United well and now intends to leave Old Trafford in January.
Serie A would be a ‘welcome destination’ for him and Juventus will ‘almost certainly’ make an attempt to sign him and reunite him with Thiago Motta. The pair enjoyed a successful relationship at Bologna last season and would be happy to work together again.
Tuttosport, meanwhile, say that Juventus want an alternative to Arkadiusz Milik and the path that leads to Zirkzee is ‘more open than ever’ at this point.
They’ve been receiving encouraging signs from Manchester United, where he is continuing to fail to impress under Ruben Amorim.
In fact, the belief is that the Portuguese coach wants Viktor Gyökeres to be signed from Sporting Club de Portugal but to do that, space needs to be made, and funds raised.
It would be difficult to get the €50m they paid for Zirkzee in the summer back and Juventus won’t be offering that anyway. They’re instead focusing on an ‘onerous loan’, so a paid loan, with an option to buy permanently tied to certain conditions, such as qualification for next year’s Champions League.
That would potentially be a frustrating offer for Manchester United, who would seemingly prefer to sell and raise as much money as they can so they can spend elsewhere.
Juventus will be making an effort nonetheless, though, with the notion seeming to be that it just makes sense for all parties.
