Juventus Transfer Market: Their Biggest Rival (a Very Italian One) Makes a Move for Joshua Zirkzee

Joshua Zirkzee is one of the players Fiorentina is considering to potentially fill Moise Kean’s shoes. The Dutch forward, who has long been on Juventus’s radar as well, is in fact among the players the Viola are considering should the Italian national team striker’s departure become a reality.

Kean’s future appears increasingly distant from Florence. Fabio Grosso only brought him on at the Olimpico against Roma once the outcome of the match was already decided, and in the meantime, the player has reportedly expressed his willingness to transfer to Como. His agent has reportedly already reached a financial agreement with the Como-based club, while an agreement between the two clubs has yet to be reached. In recent hours, however, optimism has reportedly grown regarding the possibility of reaching a solution.

Fiorentina, however, has no intention of cutting a deal: to approve the transfer, the club is asking for a fee of around 40 million euros, to which some bonuses could be added. A substantial portion of any proceeds would then be used to acquire a new center forward, with Zirkzee among the possible replacements for Kean.

Como’s stance is also weighing on the negotiations; to convince Fiorentina, they are reportedly willing to include a percentage of the player’s future resale value in their offer. The Como-based club has strong incentives to close the deal: making its Champions League debut this season, it needs players trained in Italy to meet UEFA requirements, and Kean—with 26 appearances and 13 goals for the national team—represents an almost ideal solution in this regard.

Now, however, Fiorentina would like the player himself to clearly express his desire to change teams. The Tuscan club has no need to sell him—the 62 million release clause set for July 15 expired without anyone exercising it—and the 43 goals he has scored over the past two seasons, including appearances for the national team, confirm his value.

However, Juventus’s interest in Zirkzee remains a factor that should not be underestimated. The Bianconeri, grappling with Kenan Yildiz’s injury—he’s out for about two months with a left foot problem—urgently need a reinforcement up front, and the Dutchman from Manchester United remains one of the top targets on Spalletti’s list. After two disappointing seasons in the Premier League with just nine goals and four assists, Zirkzee has reportedly already let his entourage know that he is open to a return to Serie A. However, the key to making the deal happen at Juventus remains the sale of Jonathan David, who has so far rejected all proposed destinations: a stalemate that could, paradoxically, work in Fiorentina’s favor in their pursuit of the player.