Manchester United in talks with Fiorentina over loan deal for misfiring Zirkzee

Manchester United are in active talks with Fiorentina over a potential loan deal for Joshua Zirkzee, with Tuesday’s transfer deadline adding urgency to negotiations, the Press Association understands. A season-long loan containing an option to make the move permanent is considered the most likely outcome, with reports in Italy suggesting a loan fee of around €5m (£4.3m).

Zirkzee arrived at Old Trafford from Bologna in the summer of 2024, signing a five-year contract in a €42.5m (£36.5m) deal. The 25-year-old has failed to establish himself under head coach Michael Carrick, making just five starts across 26 appearances in all competitions last season and scoring twice. He has fallen behind Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko in the attacking pecking order, and was an unused substitute as United lost 2-0 at Hull in their Premier League opener on Saturday.

Fiorentina are understood to be looking to fill the void left by Moise Kean’s departure to Como, who are preparing for Champions League qualification. Aston Villa and Juventus have also been linked with the Netherlands international, who has not featured for his country since November 2024 and has earned six caps in total.

Despite the mounting speculation, Carrick said last week that Zirkzee had not personally requested a move. “Not to me, no,” the United manager told reporters. “I don’t know what’s going to come out. I don’t know what’s going to come at us from elsewhere. We can control what we can control. I’m really happy with the squad we’ve got so far, and if not, we want to improve it.”

Zirkzee has scored nine goals in total during what has been a difficult spell at United. With the transfer window closing on Tuesday, a return to Serie A — where he previously thrived at Bologna — looks increasingly likely before Carrick’s side host Ipswich on Sunday.