Juventus, hindered by Jonathan David's delayed departure, has withdrawn from the race for Zirkzee, while Fiorentina is preparing a bid consisting of a €5 million loan fee plus a €25 million buyout option.
The situation has shifted dramatically in recent hours. Jonathan David's continued rejection of offers from other clubs has stalled Juventus' pursuit of Zirkzee, who has been a target for over a month. Fiorentina's sporting director Fabio Paratici, who was preparing a replacement for Muani, has capitalized on Juventus' delay and quickly turned his attention to the Manchester United forward. Fiorentina's initial inquiry on Wednesday progressed to formal negotiations with Manchester United yesterday. While the deal is not yet finalized, optimism is building. The key factor is Zirkzee's willingness—after reconsidering, he has given his approval. The player's agent has informed Juventus' hierarchy about the Fiorentina option, and at their Continassa training ground, recognizing their inability to proceed before Jonathan David's departure, they have effectively abandoned pursuit of the former Bologna striker.
After negotiations with Juventus and technical director Riccardo Massara fell through, Zirkzee decided not to let another opportunity slip away. With the transfer window closing on Tuesday and time running short, the 25-year-old Dutchman is eager to leave Old Trafford. His playing time has diminished further following Marcus Rashford's return from his Barcelona loan, with Zirkzee benched for the entire 90 minutes of the opening Premier League match. Fiorentina has now overtaken Juventus, and unless new developments emerge, Fiorentina will push to complete this deal in the coming hours. Paratici is awaiting Manchester United's response to the formal offer submitted yesterday.
Fiorentina and Manchester United are discussing a loan deal worth approximately €5 million, with a buyout option or conditional mandatory purchase clause of around €25 million, plus performance bonuses. The strong relationship between Paratici and the player's agent could prove decisive in negotiations, and Zirkzee has already approved the move to Fiorentina. The main risk comes from rival competition from other clubs.
Fiorentina is awaiting the outcome. If the deal succeeds, it will be up to coach Fabio Grosso to integrate Zirkzee into the team's tactical system and revitalize the attack. The former Bologna striker operates as a "false nine," with characteristics very different from Muani, who relies more on individual quality. Their only similarity is their physical attributes. The two forwards have different playing styles. Zirkzee is not known for his touches, shots, or goal-scoring statistics, but excels at winning possession, aerial duels, and linking midfield to attack. At Manchester United, he was primarily used as a finisher in 3-4-2-1 or 4-2-3-1 formations, sometimes partnering with Hojlund. He could similarly pair with Matteo Pellegrini at Fiorentina. However, Fiorentina has not abandoned alternative options pending a final decision: Everton's Beto (formerly of Udinese) and Nottingham Forest's Arnaud Kalimuendo remain on the list.
Juventus CEO Gianluca Ferrero, technical director Riccardo Massara, and sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli have not abandoned hopes of selling Jonathan David before Tuesday, September 1, and bringing another forward to manager Thiago Motta. With primary target Zirkzee out of reach, Juventus will pursue Atlético Madrid's Alexander Sørloth, though the Spanish club continues to resist. Crystal Palace's Mateta has also re-entered consideration in recent hours, but the Continassa hierarchy appears inclined to wait for bargain opportunities and late-window adjustments. Kalimuendo and Waldschmidt are also being monitored; the latter is keen to leave Newcastle United and is being pursued by several top clubs, creating intense competition. Ultimately, everything hinges on Jonathan David: as the Zirkzee situation demonstrated, Juventus cannot make significant moves until the Canadian departs.
AF's PC site is now live! Browse full news, comments, match details and stats on your computer. Visit: www.allfootballapp.com