Fiorentina have made a £4.3m Zirkzee loan offer to Manchester United, with a buy option included as talks advance over the Dutch striker

Fiorentina have submitted an official offer to Manchester United for 25-year-old Netherlands international Joshua Zirkzee on Thursday, August 27, 2026, with the Serie A club proposing a €5 million (£4.3 million) loan deal that includes a purchase option.

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Transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano reported that negotiations are now at an advanced stage between Fiorentina, Manchester United and Zirkzee’s representatives.

Romano described the move as a deal that is actively progressing, although the terms of the potential permanent transfer have not been disclosed.

The proposed Zirkzee loan would offer the forward an opportunity to revive his career in Italy, where he previously impressed with Bologna. Manchester United signed Zirkzee from Bologna in July 2024 after he enjoyed a breakthrough Serie A campaign and earned a place in the league’s Team of the Year.

Zirkzee made an encouraging start at Old Trafford, scoring the winning goal on his Premier League debut against Fulham. His subsequent progress, however, has been less convincing, with limited playing time and competition for attacking positions restricting his impact.

The Dutch forward scored four goals in his first Premier League season, according to statistical records, before managing only two league goals from 24 appearances in 2025/26.

His return to Serie A could therefore represent a significant opportunity. Zirkzee previously scored 11 league goals for Bologna during the 2023/24 campaign and established himself as a technically gifted forward capable of linking play as well as operating near the penalty area.

Fiorentina’s interest has also gathered momentum as the club prepares for the expected departure of Moise Kean to Como. Italian reports indicate that Zirkzee has emerged as a leading candidate to replace Kean, although the two forwards offer different profiles.

For Manchester United, the proposed move would provide an opportunity to reduce the size of an increasingly competitive attacking group while giving Zirkzee valuable first-team football elsewhere.

The exact value of the purchase option remains unclear, and the transfer has not yet been completed. The immediate focus is on reaching an agreement between the clubs and the player’s representatives before the transfer window closes.

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For Zirkzee, a return to Italy could offer a timely and potentially transformative second chance after two seasons in England in which his promise has not translated consistently into goals.