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Joshua Zirkzee Targeted by Juventus in Loan Move From Manchester United

Juventus and Manchester United are in talks over a loan deal as Spalletti seeks a forward who can drop deep and build play.

during 1.FC Kaiserslautern vs FC Bayern München at Fritz-Walter-Stadion, Kaiserslautern, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany on 2019-05-27, Photo: Sven Mandel
during 1.FC Kaiserslautern vs FC Bayern München a…      Joshua Zirkzee    Sven Mandel / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
By Free News Press Editorial Team
Published August 9, 2026 at 1:50 PM PDT

Juventus are in talks with Manchester United over a loan deal for Dutch forward Joshua Zirkzee, and the player himself is keen on the move.

According to Yahoo Sports, the Italian club has been reshaping its attack this transfer window and recently completed the permanent signing of Randal Kolo Muani. But sporting director and manager Luciano Spalletti want more options, and Zirkzee fits a specific profile they are targeting.

The reason Juventus are interested, according to Tuttomercatoweb, is Zirkzee's ability to drop deep and contribute to attacking build-up play. That gives him a different profile from the forwards currently in Spalletti's squad.

That represents a notable shift in what the club was originally looking for. Juventus had initially wanted a traditional number nine in the mold of Victor Osimhen or Dusan Vlahovic. Spalletti has now moved away from that preference and is instead focused on a forward who can link play and operate outside the penalty area, not just finish inside it.

Jonathan David's struggles at the club are part of what is pushing Juventus toward this kind of move. The club intends to move David on at the end of his current term and is already working to find a solution for the Canadian forward. Zirkzee could potentially arrive even before a resolution is found for David, with loan discussions between Juventus and Manchester United already underway.

Zirkzee's versatility in the final third is seen as the key factor driving Spalletti's interest. His ability to participate in build-up, hold the ball, and link with teammates would give Juventus greater tactical variety in attack, something Spalletti is clearly prioritizing as the window approaches its close.

during 1.FC Kaiserslautern vs FC Bayern München at Fritz-Walter-Stadion, Kaiserslautern, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany on 2019-05-27, Photo: Sven Mandel
during 1.FC Kaiserslautern vs FC Bayern München a…      Joshua Zirkzee    Sven Mandel / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)