Fiorentina Leads Juventus in Joshua Zirkzee Race

Fiorentina have moved into pole position to sign Manchester United forward Joshua Zirkzee, nudging ahead of Juventus in a battle that could run to the end of the summer window.

United are prepared to let the 25-year-old leave after two frustrating years at Old Trafford. Last season he started only five Premier League games, and his situation looks even bleaker now. For the opening league fixture of the 2026-27 campaign at newly-promoted Hull City, Zirkzee did not get off the bench.

Marcus Rashford’s return from his loan at Barcelona has pushed him further down the attacking hierarchy, leaving the Dutchman searching for a way out and clubs across Europe sensing an opportunity.

Serie A knows exactly what he can offer. In 2023-24, Zirkzee hit 11 league goals for Bologna, his final season there before joining United. That campaign convinced top Italian sides he could lead the line at a high level, and both Juventus and Fiorentina have been working on ways to bring him back.

Their situations, though, are very different.

Juventus want another attacker, but their hands are tied. They are expected to move for Zirkzee only if they can first offload Jonathan David, a domino that has yet to fall. Until that happens, their interest remains conditional, not concrete.

Fiorentina are operating with far greater urgency. Moise Kean is on the verge of joining Champions League side Como in a €40m deal, leaving a sizeable gap in Vincenzo Italiano’s attack. La Viola need a replacement now, not in a few weeks.

That urgency has shifted the balance. According to reports in La Gazzetta dello Sport, Fiorentina are currently in the strongest position to strike an agreement with Manchester United, with a clear role to offer Zirkzee and fewer internal obstacles to overcome.

Juventus are still in the race. But unless they clear space in their squad and on their wage bill quickly, the forward who once lit up Bologna may be walking out at the Artemio Franchi rather than the Allianz Stadium when Serie A kicks off in earnest.