Turin's Juventus have stepped up negotiations with Manchester United regarding a move for 25-year-old Dutch forward Joshua Zirkzee.
The English club has shifted from its initial stance, opening the door for the striker's loan. Zirkzee himself has reportedly given verbal consent to return to Serie A, where he previously enjoyed success with Bologna.
Details of the deal
According to reports from La Gazzetta dello Sport and The Athletic, the clubs are discussing a deal structure similar to last year's transfer of Marcus Rashford.
Terms of the loan: Juventus are hoping to secure a one-year loan with an option to buy set at around €35 million (£30 million).
Disagreements over obligations: Manchester United is pushing to include clauses that would make the option a mandatory purchase based on the number of matches played or if Juventus qualifies for European competitions.
Competition for the player: Previously, Ajax and two clubs from the Premier League showed interest in Zirkzee, but the player has prioritised Juventus's project.
First-team position and competition in Turin
At Manchester United under Michael Carrick, the Dutchman has found himself behind Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha, and Bryan Mbeumo in the pecking order, leading to limited playing time.
In Turin, head coach Luciano Spalletti highly values Zirkzee's ability to drop deeper and connect midfield with attack. Juventus recently completed the signing of Randall Kolo-Muani from PSG for €38 million, so bringing in Zirkzee on loan is viewed as an ideal move to strengthen both their defensive and attacking lines ahead of the new season.
