Zirkzee Was Not Close to Returning to Italy in January | OneFootball

Joshua Zirkzee was linked to a possible Serie A comeback in January and, while a couple of teams tried, things didn’t get too far in the negotiation with Manchester United. The Red Devils, which shelled out €40M plus a large commission to sign him from Bologna last summer, never intended to send him out on an initial loan, Tuttomercatoweb informs.

The player didn’t push to leave either. He wanted to prove his worth under his new boss Ruben Amorim. He was eager to bounce back from a rough first half of the season in the Premier League. His team didn’t concretely move to add a new striker either.

Juventus and Napoli tested the waters early for Zirkzee but quickly realized the deal was difficult because of his price tag and wages, which amount to €5M annually. He would have likely asked for a raise to transfer.

His future at Old Trafford will be determined by how he fares in the coming months and by whether Manchester United will land an elite striker. Both Serie A sides will remain interested. Inter could take a look at him as well should a side activate Marcus Thuram’s release clause. Still, everything is premature at this stage.

Our Take on Zirkzee

Common sense prevailed in this case. It wouldn’t have been great to discard a talented youngster after just six months in a new league and in a challenging situation. The Bianconeri would have most likely picked him over Randal Kolo Muani had they had the chance. His salary is high but not astronomical, while the commission could be an issue for some sides.