Joshua Zirkzee has reportedly his intentions clear after Juventus made their move for the Manchester United star.
Dutch attacker Joshua Zirkzee has made his position clear and wants to remain at Manchester United for the remainder of the season, despite renewed interest from Juventus and continued links with a return to Serie A, as per TEAMtalk.
The 24-year-old forward has been the subject of speculation throughout January, with AS Roma previously credited with interest and Juventus now stepping up their monitoring in the final days of the transfer window. However, sources close to the situation indicate that Zirkzee has expressed a firm desire to stay at Old Trafford beyond Monday’s deadline.
Manchester United, for their part, have adopted a hardline stance. According to The Sun, the club were prepared to block mid-season exits for senior players, and Zirkzee’s representatives were explicitly informed there was “no chance” of a January move. That position has not changed, even as Serie A clubs continue to test the waters.
Zirkzee has missed Manchester United’s last two matches through injury but returned to training this week and could feature on the bench when Fulham visit Old Trafford in the Premier League on Sunday. Head coach Michael Carrick was keen to downplay any transfer talk when asked about the striker’s future.
“I think Josh has just been trying to work to get fit and get back around the group,” Carrick said. “It’s been great to have him back training yesterday with the group for the first time. That’s literally as far as it goes for me and for Josh. I’m looking forward to working with him. That’s it. Nothing else needs to be said.”
Manchester United signed Zirkzee from Bologna for £36.5 million in July 2024, but his impact has been limited. The Dutchman has scored just two Premier League goals over the past year, and he has made only four league starts this season, finding the net against Crystal Palace and Wolves. His lack of consistent minutes has been exacerbated by Manchester United’s recent success without a traditional out-and-out striker.
Summer signing Benjamin Sesko has often been preferred, even starting on the bench during high-profile victories over Liverpool, Manchester City, and Arsenal, while Bryan Mbeumo has been deployed centrally under Carrick and has scored in both games since the managerial change. Prior to Ruben Amorim’s dismissal, Zirkzee was largely viewed as backup to Sesko, and his position in the pecking order appears to have slipped further.
Despite that, Juventus remain admirers. The Serie A giants are determined to add attacking firepower before the window shuts and have carried out fresh checks on Zirkzee through intermediaries, hoping Manchester United might soften their stance late on. Juventus had previously explored moves for Randal Kolo Muani and Jean-Philippe Mateta, even agreeing personal terms with the latter before baulking at Crystal Palace’s £40 million valuation.
Zirkzee’s situation has not gone unnoticed in Turin, nor in Rome, and both Juventus and AS Roma retain an interest should a late opportunity arise. However, Carrick is understood to have advised the Dutchman to focus on seeing out the season at Manchester United, particularly with an eye on his international ambitions. Zirkzee harbours hopes of forcing his way into the Netherlands squad for the 2026 World Cup, but regular football at a high level will be crucial.
With Manchester United having just 15 matches left this season, rotation opportunities may be limited, further complicating matters. If a tempting offer does arrive before the English window closes on Monday at 7pm UK time, the Red Devils could yet face a dilemma on whether to retain a player who has struggled for minutes, or cash in and risk thinning an already stretched squad.
For now, though, the message from both club and player is aligned. Joshua Zirkzee wants to stay at Manchester United, and Juventus’s late checks appear unlikely to change that stance unless something dramatic unfolds before the Monday deadline.