Fiorentina in Talks with Manchester United for Joshua Zirkzee Loan

Fiorentina are in talks with Manchester United over a loan deal for forward Joshua Zirkzee, with the Italian club pushing to secure an option to buy at the end of the season.

The Netherlands international is expected to leave Old Trafford this summer and has drawn interest from several clubs across Europe. Fiorentina have moved to the front of the queue and are negotiating a season-long loan running until next summer, with an option to make the move permanent.

Zirkzee, who still has three years left on his United contract, is open to joining the Serie A side. Those close to the discussions do not consider an agreement imminent, but there is growing optimism that the clubs can strike a deal before the transfer window closes on 1 September.

United signed Zirkzee from Bologna in 2024 for £36.5m after a standout campaign in Italy, where he was named Serie A's Under-23 player of the season for 2023-24.

He announced himself in England with a debut goal in a 1-0 win over Fulham, hinting at a breakthrough that never fully arrived.

Across two seasons, though, he has struggled to nail down a regular starting role. Zirkzee has made 75 appearances for United but only 27 starts, often used from the bench and shuffled across the forward line rather than trusted as a consistent focal point.

Last season underlined his stalled progress. The 25-year-old managed just five Premier League starts in the 2025-26 campaign and finished with nine goals in all competitions for United.

Fiorentina now see an opportunity. United see a decision to make on a talented forward whose career at Old Trafford has never quite caught fire.