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Man United close on loan deal for wantaway striker with £25m buy option
Aug 28 2026 12:48 · By onefootball.com · 4 Reads
9
Joshua Zirkzee’s destination for the remainder of the 2026-27 season is now clear.
Many had tipped him to return to Serie A, where he shone with Bologna, with Juventus and then Napoli showing interest.
However, the Dutchman is joining neither. Instead, Fiorentina have stunned the two Serie A heavyweights to land the 25-year-old’s services.
Zirkzee never found his feet in the Premier League
Zirkzee never got to dazzle in the Premier League as some hoped he would when he arrived from Bologna in the summer of 2024.
Truth be told, though, he was in many ways not cut out for the Premier League. He is technically gifted, a true baller who can do crazy things with the ball, yet his sluggish style of play meant he struggled to cope with the Premier League’s intensity.
Beyond Dimitar Berbatov, few number nines can crack the Premier League playing the game at their own pace. This league demands quick, deadly strikers who punish you at the sniff of a chance.
Zirkzee was not that, and in the end he never offered the Red Devils what they needed: plenty of goals.
Returning to Italy, where technical ability runs the show, is therefore a wise move.
Gazzetta dello Sport now reveals the kind of deal United and Fiorentina are discussing:
“The Viola and Manchester United are discussing a high-value loan deal, in the region of 5 million, with an option to buy or a conditional obligation to buy for a figure of around 25 million plus bonuses.”
Juve out of the race
They also clarify that Zirkzee and Juventus have realised a deal will not go through, despite a verbal agreement between the two parties, a situation that has left the United number 11 unwilling to miss the chance to join Fiorentina.
Barring any last-minute surprises, Zirkzee is headed to Florence.
Attention will now turn to who United replace him with, as INEOS would be wise not to let a decent option leave and risk creating a squad gap
Overall credibility: 8/10 Why?
✅ Reported by a solid source for Italian transfer news
✅ Zirkzee’s loan move to Fiorentina has been widely reported
We believe that unless a sensational hijack is pulled off, Joshua Zirkzee is heading to Fiorentina on loan.