Zirkzee IN, Vlahovic OUT? Juventus make decision Man Utd flop

Joshua Zirkzee is seen as the ideal striker for Juventus, but a move would hinge heavily on the future of Dusan Vlahovic, according to Italian media.

The Manchester United striker is looking for a fresh start under Ruben Amorim. So far, Zirkzee has been a major disappointment and speculation surrounding his future has been rampant.

He has been persistently linked with a January transfer to Juventus, now coached by his former Bologna boss Thiago Motta. These reports have been played down and Amorim will take his time to assess the current squad before making a decision on potential January moves.

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However, the Juventus links linger on because Dusan Vlahovic is once again proving hit and miss this season because, by his own admission, he functions better in a front two, a system not utilised by Motta.

“Yes, I like playing with another striker alongside me,” he said while away on international duty with Serbia, “I feel good but it also depends on the coach. It’s definitely a bit easier because [Aleksandar] Mitrovic is a strong player who plays a lot on the sidelines and in aerial duels and I can exploit my qualities.

“Also because coach [Dragan] Stojkovic doesn’t force me to do a lot of defensive work. And for a player like me, with my build, honestly I can’t run that much. Because then I’m not fresh in finishing.”

Zirkzee to Juventus: The state of play

The obvious solution would be for Juventus to bring Zirkzee in to play alongside Vlahovic, but this is where finances come into play. After a summer of heavy spending to give Motta the tools needed to build a winning team, the Old Lady can’t go around splashing the cash.

Moreover, signing a striker is a topic internally but it’s not a pressing issue because the defence needs to be sorted out first. Gleison Bremer and Juan Cabal are out for the season with ACL injuries, so the Bianconeri need reinforcements for the backline.

READ MORE: Man Utd face SHOCK competition in transfer for Casemiro replacement

Still, according to Calciomercato, Juventus would love to sign someone with the profile of Zirkzee. Ultimately, though, a move depends on Vlahovic.

The Serb is the club’s biggest earner and his future is entirely up in the air. Talks over a contract extension have been ongoing for over a year, but they are proving difficult because Juventus would ideally like to cut costs.

If no agreement can be reached before the end of the season, a summer sale is possible. Juventus, if signs point in that direction, could gamble on Zirkzee in January if Man Utd indicate that they would be open to a ‘costly’ loan with an obligation to buy.