Football
Struggling Manchester United striker Joshua Zirkzee linked with January move to Juventus
Joe Lyons is a sports writer with years of experience on reputable sports and gambling websites. Joe has also been published by Nottingham Forest, working with the academy and senior teams to produce content on matchdays. He formerly covered the Premier League and EFL as an on-site reporter during the 2020/21 season for Prost International. He is an expert in a range of sports including soccer, basketball, horse racing and American football. Joe specialises in long form content alongside news, tips and betting. Joe has a keen eye for the sports betting industry in the USA which covers the NBA and NFL, tracking and analysing the market as it changes throughout the season.
Get to know Joe Lyons betterPublished5 hours ago on October 22, 2024
One of Manchester United’s newest arrivals Joshua Zirkzee could be on his way out already after a disappointing opening spell.
Zirkzee, 23, is the subject of interest from Serie A giants Juventus over a surprising January move – which could see the Dutchman depart Old Trafford after just six months.
The £35m forward got off to a flyer with the Red Devils thanks to his late winner in United’s 1-0 win over Fulham on the opening night of the season, but it hasn’t been smooth sailing since.
Zirkzee has failed to provide a goal contribution in over two months, tallying ten straight appearances without a goal or an assist.
Since Rasmus Hojlund’s return from injury, the Danish international has started up front on his own in three consecutive games – leaving Zirkzee on the bench as a backup.
Hojlund has also scored twice in those three outings, making Zirkzee’s task of breaking back into the fold even tougher which could force him out the door.
According to football betting sites, Zirkzee is a distant 250/1 shot to win the Premier League Golden Boot after a slow start to life in Manchester.
Joshua Zirkzee ‘open’ to joining Juventus in January
According to calciomercato.com, the player is believed to be open to a return to Italy but it’s currently unclear whether his current club would be interested in such a move.
Zirkzee made his name in Italy’s highest tier during two seasons at Bologna from 2022-2024, scoring 14 times and assisting nine goals in 58 games.
WHAT A MOMENT 💫
Joshua Zirkzee scores on his Manchester United debut! 😍 pic.twitter.com/EP8Fzkj5BL
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 16, 2024
The Netherlands international started for his country over the recent international break in the Nations League against Hungary and appeared as a 75th minute substitute in the following game against Germany.
Reports suggest that Juventus, who are unbeaten all season long, are looking for a player with Zirkzee’s capabilities and the striker is keen on capitalising on this opportunity to play for such a historic club.
He would also reunite with former manager Thiago Motta, who coached Zirkzee at Bologna during his two years there.