Man Utd in OFFICIAL negotiations over transfer for €43m star

AS Roma have officially opened talks with Manchester United over a January deal for Joshua Zirkzee, according to Italian media.

The Serie A giants are desperate to bolster their attack in the winter, having recently slipped down from first to fourth in the table due to their misfiring frontline.

Roma have the worst goalscoring record in the top half of Serie A this term, and head coach Gian Piero Gasperini is practically begging club bosses to bring in reinforcements.

On Tuesday, reports in Italy again reiterated that Gasperini views Man Utd forward Joshua Zirkzee as his top target and that he wants the Netherlands international “wrapped in a ribbon” as a Christmas present.

Zirkzee, although he has played more in the absence of Benjamin Sesko, is frustrated with his situation at Man Utd and is open to a January exit in the hopes that a move away from Old Trafford will boost his chances of making his country’s World Cup squad.

Roma start Man Utd talks

Roma’s interest in Zirkzee has been a widely reported topic in the Italian press for weeks. Gazzetta dello Sport now reports that the Giallorossi have officially opened talks with Man Utd over a January deal.

Roma’s owners, the Friedkins, formally greenlit the potential signing of Zirkzee on Tuesday evening, which has allowed sporting director Frederic Massara to bypass intermediaries and directly communicate with his Man Utd counterparts.

The Serie A giants are planning to initially sign Zirkzee on loan, but they are not opposed to attaching a permanent element. However, they want any purchase obligation to be conditional, chiefly on qualification for the Champions League.

A sign that things are moving behind the scenes is that Sky Sports has now also, belatedly, confirmed Roma’s interest in Zirkzee. While the outlet’s reporting is more cautious, the timing suggests that there has been tangible progress over the past 24 hours.

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