Director flies in for transfer of 24-yo star, United prepared to agree €30m deal – report

AS Roma have accelerated their pursuit of Manchester United striker Joshua Zirkzee, as per reports. An injury to Benjamin Sesko came as a blessing in disguise for Zirkzee, who got his first start of the season after the Slovenian was sidelined early in November.  The 24-year-old has a goal to his name in his three starts in the Premier League and has so far done little to suggest he is better than Sesko. As such, a January exit remains a serious possibility. Roma pushing to win race for Zirkzee It has been widely reported that a number of Serie A clubs are monitoring Joshua Zirkzee‘s situation, as his reputation in Italy remains strong, thanks to his exceptional stint at Bologna.  AC Milan, Juventus, and Roma are all interested in Zirkzee, but the Giallorossi are trying to get ahead of the pack. According to Corriere dello Sport, Roma sporting director Frederic Massara has travelled to London to discuss Zirkzee’s potential transfer following the side’s win over Celtic in the Europa League in Glasgow. ClubsAppearances GoalsAssists Manchester United580803 Bologna581409 Anderlecht471813 Bayern Munich170401 Parma04– The Serie A giants are holding talks with United as well as the representatives of the Dutchman.  Their aim is to find an agreement over an initial loan deal. However, United are hoping to fetch around €30m from Zirkzee’s transfer straight away in January. Zirkzee open to Serie A return Meanwhile, the Netherlands international’s priority is regular minutes with the World Cup 2026 on the horizon. The Italian publication claim that Zirkzee doesn’t want to wait until the final days of the winter window to resolve his future. However, United would like to wait for the likes of Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo to return from their Africa Cup of Nations commitments.  The Red Devils’ supposed stance could also leave Kobbie Mainoo in limbo, as the English midfielder is expected to push for a move away from Old Trafford, having struggled for proper opportunities under Ruben Amorim.  Featured image Matt McNulty via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Vishal Singh Vishal has worked in the football media industry for over six years, planning, writing, and editing content for several major outlets, including North Star Network. Vishal has a bachelor’s degree in English Literature from Delhi University. Currently a writer at The Peoples Person, he covers Manchester United — a club he has been religiously following and supporting since 2012. Vishal also manages a leading MUFC fan page, The Red Devils, on Facebook with over a million likes. Big fan of ball-playing centre-backs and Harry Maguire’s knee-slide celebration!