Juventus are actively pursuing a loan deal for Dutch forward Joshua Zirkzee from Manchester United, with the English club reportedly giving its approval for the move. The 25-year-old striker, who joined Manchester United for over €40 million in the summer of 2024, has struggled to make an impact in England, recording just 9 goals and 4 assists over two seasons, often finding himself on the bench.
Zirkzee’s Italian reunion
Zirkzee, a product of Bayern Munich’s academy, is said to be keen on a return to Serie A, where he previously enjoyed a successful spell with Bologna. According to Gazzetta dello Sport, he has given “general availability” to the Bianconeri, expressing a strong nostalgia for Italy and the appeal of restarting his career at Juventus. The potential reunion with Thiago Motta, who coached Zirkzee during his historic season at Bologna, is also a significant factor.
The move for Zirkzee is contingent on Juventus making space in their squad, with Canadian international Jonathan David considered a likely departure. David was substituted early in a recent friendly against Chelsea in Hong Kong, a planned move following his post-World Cup minutes. Promising 2008-born player Durmisi replaced David in that match, and Zirkzee could step into David’s shoes by the end of the month, according to Gazzetta dello Sport. The proposed deal for Zirkzee is a straightforward loan without an obligation to buy, reflecting United’s desire for him to regain form.
Liverpool’s defensive dilemma and attacking focus
Meanwhile, Liverpool have firmly stated their position on Tottenham’s England full-back Djed Spence, confirming they have no intention of pursuing a summer transfer for the 25-year-old. This stance, reported by the Mirror, comes despite the Reds facing a recent spate of defensive injuries during pre-season, including Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, Jeremy Jacquet, and Conor Bradley. The ECHO, as cited by the Mirror, understood Liverpool has “absolutely no intention” of making a move for Spence.
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Spence, who impressed for England at the World Cup, faces an uncertain future at Tottenham as Roberto De Zerbi undertakes a squad overhaul. He is expected to fall behind new signing Andy Robertson and World Cup winner Pedro Porro in the pecking order. Tottenham are reportedly open to offers for Spence, valuing him at around £35 million, and he has previously been linked with Inter and AC Milan.
Despite their defensive concerns, Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola’s priority remains the signing of an attacking player to replace Mohamed Salah. While Bradley Barcola has been linked, Paris Saint-Germain’s demand of over £100 million has made him a costly option. Instead, Ibrahim Mbaye, a PSG teammate, has emerged as a potentially cheaper alternative, with Liverpool intensifying discussions with the 18-year-old Senegal winger’s representatives, as he reportedly seeks to leave PSG, according to Teamtalk.
Scouting new talent across Europe
Elsewhere in the transfer market, Galatasaray have added 25-year-old Arsenal and Brazil forward Gabriel Martinelli to their transfer shortlist, Gianlucadimarzio reports. In South America, Arsenal and Manchester United sent scouts to watch 20-year-old striker Kaua Elias score a hat-trick for Shakhtar Donetsk in a pre-season friendly, with AC Milan and Porto also interested in the promising talent, as reported by The Sun.
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