Italian giants Juventus reportedly consider offering Joshua Zirkzee a career revival. The 23-year-old joined Manchester United from Bologna just a few months ago and has struggled to make an impact at Old Trafford.
New head coach Ruben Amorim is said to be “unconvinced” by the 23-year-old, casting doubt on his future at the club.
The Dutch forward was acquired for £37 million during the summer transfer window, Zirkzee has only scored one goal in 16 appearances, raising questions about whether he fits into United’s system.
His lack of form has been intensified by the appearance of Amorim, whose strategic inclinations appear to be skewed with Zirkzee’s playing style.
Nonetheless, the striker has optimism. According to Calcio Mercato reports, Juventus is eager to reinstate Zirkzee in Italy when the transfer window reopens.
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In addition to reviving his career, a transfer to Turin may bring him back together with Thiago Motta, his former manager at Bologna. Zirkzee had a strong season last season, scoring 12 goals in 37 games under Motta’s leadership.
Ruud van Nistelrooy, United’s interim manager, has mostly used Zirkzee as a substitute, limiting his playing time in recent weeks.
In September, he lost 3-0 against Tottenham in the Premier League, which was his most recent start. The teenage attacker may already be reaching the end of his time at United, even though he signed a five-year deal.
Micah Richards, a Sky Sports analyst, has voiced worries about Manchester United’s offensive possibilities under Amorim’s direction. Rasmus Højlund, another striker, and Zirkzee have both had difficulty adjusting to the tactical demands of the new boss.
Despite Højlund’s injury setbacks at the start of the season, Richards thinks neither player is a good fit for Amorim’s style. Richards has instead indicated that Amorim may seek reinforcements from Sporting Lisbon, his old team, maybe focusing on Viktor Gyökeres.
Given the uncertain future of Arkadiusz Milik and Nico González’s regular injury absences, Zirkzee might be a useful backup for Dusan Vlahović at Juventus. If the deal goes through, it may give Zirkzee the new beginning he needs and increase Juventus’ striking depth.