Juventus Pursue Zirkzee and Kolo Muani for Revamped Attack
Juventus are trying to rebuild their attack with a double strike in the market – and Joshua Zirkzee has now given the first green light.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the Manchester United forward has signalled his approval to join the Turin club on loan this summer. That nod has accelerated Juventus’ work behind the scenes, with intensive talks ongoing with his agent, Kia Joorabchian, to shape a deal that would bring the Dutch international back to Serie A.
This is not a sudden whim. New football director Ricky Massara has tracked Zirkzee for some time, and even tried to take him to Roma in the winter window. Now, in his new role in Turin, he is pushing to finally land a player he considers tailor‑made for the club’s next project.
A modern No. 9 for Spalletti
Zirkzee’s stock in Italy remains high. In 2023-24, he produced 12 goals and seven assists for Bologna in Serie A, a return that underlined his blend of technique, link‑up play and creativity between the lines. That version of Zirkzee – the modern, technically polished centre‑forward – is exactly what Juventus believe can slot into Luciano Spalletti’s tactical ideas.
England has been a different story. Since his move to the Premier League, the 23‑year‑old has struggled to secure a regular starting role, with only 19 starts from 68 league appearances over the past two seasons. Juventus see an opportunity in that frustration: a talented forward needing the right context, and a club in need of fresh ideas in the final third.
Spalletti’s system demands a forward who can drop, combine and still threaten the box. On paper, Zirkzee fits that brief.
Kolo Muani the other pillar
Zirkzee is only half of the plan. At the same time, Juventus are prioritising a major move for Paris Saint‑Germain striker Randal Kolo Muani, identified as the other key piece in a revamped frontline.
CEO Giovanni Carnevali is working to close a €40 million deal with PSG, Gazzetta reports, as the club look to inject pace and direct running alongside Zirkzee’s more refined touch. The idea is clear: one forward to knit play, another to stretch defences.
The pressure finally told after an untimely setback. An injury to young Italian striker Jeff Ekhator has sharpened the urgency in the market, leaving the Bianconeri short of options and forcing the hierarchy to accelerate their plans. The response has been aggressive: push through a loan for Zirkzee with United and lock down Kolo Muani for a substantial fee.
If both deals land, Juventus believe they will emerge with a far more dynamic and unpredictable attack than last season’s often static unit.
Clock ticking before Serie A kick-off
All eyes now turn to the boardroom. Spalletti is waiting for clarity on when these moves will be completed, keen to have his attacking structure in place well before the serious work begins.
Pre‑season is not a luxury this time; it is a necessity. The coaching staff want Zirkzee and Kolo Muani, or whoever ultimately arrives, embedded in the system early, understanding the pressing triggers, the rotations, the positional demands that define Spalletti’s football.
Time is short. Juventus open their Serie A campaign away to newly promoted Frosinone on 23 August, a deceptively tricky fixture for a side still searching for rhythm. By then, the club will hope their new‑look attack is not just on paper, but already taking shape on the pitch – or risk starting a crucial season still one step behind.
