Manchester United reject £28m bid after Michael Carrick approves transfer

Michael Carrick could trim his Man Utd squad (Picture: Getty)

Manchester United have rejected an offer worth £28m for wantaway forward Joshua Zirkzee, according to reports.

Netherlands international Zirkzee has underwhelmed at Old Trafford since his £36.5m move from Bologna in 2024.

Zirkzee scored just three Premier League goals in his first season in the Premier League before contributing only two in all competitions last term.

Michael Carrick is open to selling Zirkzee, having left him on the bench for Manchester United’s first two games of the season, a shock 2-0 defeat to Hull City and a 5-2 win over Ipswich Town.

Zirkzee has been heavily linked with a return to Italy, where he began to thrive before his move to Manchester two years ago.

Serie A giants Juventus are keen to secure his signature and have been boosted by the fact Zirkzee has reportedly approved the move as he knows regular minutes are needed if he is to revive his stuttering career.

Italian transfer expert Gianluca Di Maria says talks between Manchester United and Juventus are ‘in full swing’ and there is hope a deal will be struck before the summer transfer window closes on Tuesday.

Manchester United outcast Joshua Zirkzee (Picture: Getty)

Juventus offered to pay a loan fee of 2.5m euros (£2.1m) with a buyout option set at 30m euros (£26m), but United have rejected the proposal.

The report says Manchester United want the total price of the package to be 35m euros (£30m) and will request an obligation to buy rather than an option.

Juve are keen to sign Zirkzee as Canadian forward Jonathan David edges closer to a move to Atletico Madrid, who in turn are preparing for Julian Alvarez’s potential exit.

Juventus are in talks with Man Utd (Picture: Getty)

Earlier this month ex-United assistant manager Rene Meulensteen, speaking on talkSPORT, urged Zirkzee to secure a move away from Old Trafford.

‘I’ve heard a rumour that he might be moving to Juventus, and I thought that would be a good move for him,’ Meulensteen told talkSPORT.

‘It’s been evident that he hasn’t been a regular starter; he’s been a bit of a bit-part player.

‘I don’t think he has shown he is good enough to warrant being a starter for the coming season, especially with Sesko who has done so well under Michael.’

Manchester United suffered a shock defeat to Hull on the opening weekend but responded with an emphatic win over Ipswich Town last time out.

‘Results are nice to win like that,’ Carrick said. ‘I said after the game last week that we were disappointed and it has hurt all week.