Joshua Zirkzee Is A Priority Target For Serie A Club In January But Not The Only One On Their Radar

With less than two months to the next transfer window, top European clubs are already strategizing and putting plans in motion, trying to identify which player(s) that they can acquire in the upcoming winter transfer window to strengthen their team midway through the 2025-26 season.

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Next year (2026) would be a World Cup year and so, lots of players would be pushing to join new clubs in search of more playing time to help them remain in contention with their respective national teams and increase their chances of going to the World Cup.

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Going by this narrative, one player that would definitely be eager for a change of club is Joshua Zirkzee who left Bologna in 2024 but has failed to live up to expectations with his new team, Manchester United and has now been linked with a return to the Serie A.

The Dutchman wants to leave Old Trafford to get more playing time and be part of the Netherlands’ World Cup squad next year, and according to the report, the Red Devils want the option to buy to be set at at least €35m, the same fee Roma are required to pay to sign Evan Ferguson permanently next year.

According to reports from Italy, Gian Piero Gasperini has already given the green light for Zirkzee’s move to Roma in January, as he feels the Dutch striker is ideal for his playing style and the recent injuries suffered by the club in attack has increased their need for a new forward.

The former Atalanta coach already wanted to bring Zirkzee to Bergamo in the past, despite having little chance to sign the Dutch striker from Bologna due to stiff competition and now, the coach has already discussed possible transfer moves with Roma directors recently.

Hence, he has given the go ahead for Zirkzee’s possible signature but that may not be enough to get the deal done due to various factors. There’s a chance Roma will sign Zirkzee on loan with an option to buy, while the striker would be glad to return to Italy.

On the other hand, other clubs (Aston Villa and West Ham) have also made enquiries, making substantial offer to sign the striker permanently and this is why Roma and Gasperini are forced to wait now, but the coach feels Zirkzee is ideal for his playing style, as he can either play as a centre-forward or in a wider position.

The Italian tactician would love to work with Zirkzee at the Olimpico, but is also aware that Roma would need two new signings in attack in the winter transfer window after the recent injury report on Artem Dovbyk, with the Ukrainian forward expected to be out for at least two months.

Gazzetta dello Sport also reports that the Red Devils are open to discussing a loan deal with an option to buy but the salary could prove to be a sticking point while Roma are also limited in how much they can spend as they have to maintain a certain threshold in their balance sheet.

Consequently, the Giallorossi have set their sights on other strikers as well, including Tottenham’s Mathys Tel. Zirkzee currently earns €3.5m per season, and if he joins Roma in January, the club will pay half that sum and would rediscuss his wages in the summer, if he moves to the Olimpico permanently.

According to the report, Roma’s ‘plan B’ is Franculino Djù of Midtjylland, but in this case, the request is €30m for a permanent transfer. Hence, Tottenham’s Mathys Tel is seen as a versatile option as he can play both as a centre-forward and as a left winger, same as Zirkzee.

The former Bayern Munich starlet wants to leave Spurs, even just on loan, having struggled with playing time this season and being left out of their Champions League squad and he is seen as a more doable and affordable option than other targets on the wings.

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With names like El Mala (Koln), valued at €45m and Yuri Alberto (Corinthians), who has a €30m price-tag. Racing’s Jeremy Arevalo, who has a €7m release clause, the current joint Serie A leaders know that they’ve to make a major signing in attack if they’re to remain in the Scudetto race this season.

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