Joshua Zirkzee has rediscovered his scoring touch for Manchester United, netting the opening goal in their Europa League round of 16 first leg match against Real Sociedad. The Dutch striker’s 57th-minute strike, assisted by Alejandro Garnacho, put the Red Devils ahead before Real Sociedad equalized through an Oyarzabal penalty.
Zirkzee’s goal comes as a welcome relief after his recent penalty miss that led to United’s FA Cup elimination against Fulham. Speaking to TNT Sports after the match, Zirkzee emphasized the importance of his goal for the team and acknowledged the need for improvement in the return leg at Old Trafford.
The 23-year-old has now scored six goals this season across all competitions, with three in the Premier League, one each in the Europa League, FA Cup, and League Cup. While these numbers may seem modest, Juventus remains interested in the former Bayern Munich player.
Calciomercato report that Juventus manager Thiago Motta, who previously coached Zirkzee during his most prolific season at Bologna, is still an admirer of the Dutch forward. The Turin club is reportedly monitoring Zirkzee’s situation with a view to a potential summer move.
Juventus’ sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli is said to be formulating a plan that involves retaining Randal Kolo Muani on loan from Paris Saint-Germain and selling Dusan Vlahovic to make room for Zirkzee. This strategy hinges on Juventus securing Champions League qualification for next season.
Zirkzee, who joined Manchester United for €42.5 million, is under contract until June 2029 with an option for an additional year. His current salary is estimated at around €3.5 million net per year.
As Juventus plot their move for Zirkzee, Manchester United may already be looking at potential replacements, with reports suggesting interest in Sporting Lisbon’s Swedish striker Viktor Gyokeres.
With the second leg of the Europa League tie still to come and crucial matches ahead in the Premier League, Zirkzee will be hoping to build on his recent goal and finish the season strongly, whether his future lies in Manchester or potentially in Turin.
