Man Utd get green light for striker deal: ‘Full speed ahead’ for next transfer

6 Aug 2026 17:02 BST | 4 min read

Robin Bairner | Chief Editor

Accredited football journalist and editor covering the game since 2006

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Manchester United have been told that it’s a case of ‘full speed ahead’ for their next major transfer deal, with Michael Carrick’s side finally set for some movement in the striking department.

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The Red Devils are seeking to add another forward player to their ranks this summer but first need to create room in Carrick’s squad to allow a new signing.

After successfully securing outgoing deals for two players on Wednesday, Joshua Zirkzee is increasingly close to departing and, therefore, opening up the possibility of a new forward arriving before the transfer deadline.

Current ETV

Joshua Zirkzee

F (C)

Man Utd

Joshua Zirkzee

F (C)

Man Utd

ETV Range

€20.5M - €25.1M

Juventus pushing through deal

Juventus are accelerating for a deal to secure Netherlands striker Zirkzee, with Gazzetta dello Sport describing the move as going ‘full speed ahead’.

Zirkzee’s move to the Serie A giants would be in the form of a loan move, but is dependent on Jonathan David being moved on.

The Canada international striker has had a difficult year in Turin after showing much promise with Lille, but as a free agent there has been little reason for Juventus to fully invest in him.

And now the Italian side are ready to move on, although it is stressed that Juventus’ decision to withdrawn David from the 1-0 friendly win over Chelsea on Wednesday after an hour was a pre-planned decision based on his fitness levels.

Zirkzee, Man Utd in agreement

Zirkzee is open to the move, with the Dutchman said to be ‘nostalgic’ to returning to Serie A, where he starred with Bologna under Thiago Motta.

This triggered a €40 million move to Man Utd, where he has since failed to replicate that form, scoring only nine goals and providing only another four assists.

Gazzetta adds that the Red Devils have now given the green light to discuss a deal, although the devil will be in the detail of the negotiations.

Juventus was a loan with a mandatory or conditional purchase clause, or a free transfer. Given the player still has three years to run on his deal at Old Trafford and commands an Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) of €22.8 million – around the figure Bologna paid for him – there is little prospect of the third of those options being agreeable to the Old Trafford side.

He is not, meanwhile, Juventus’ ideal No.9. Head coach Luciano Spalletti ideally wants a penalty box poacher, but there is equally an acceptance in Turin that these players are few and far between and, when available, prohibitively expensive.

Zirkzee is seen as a luxury signing, but one that is affordable if a deal can be “creatively” agreed with Man Utd, who are open to the move.