Man United line up Bundesliga star as replacement for striker who wants out of Old Trafford

Joshua Zirkzee is pushing to leave Manchester United before the window shuts, and it appears the Red Devils have already lined up a replacement for their wantaway striker.

Zirkzee's arrival from Bologna in 2024 was greeted with excitement from supporters, who felt he could transfer his form in Italy to the Premier League.

The Dutchman hit double figures for goals during the 2023/24 campaign, including seven assists in all competitions, making him one of the most sought-after players in the division.

But like many players signed during the Erik ten Hag era, the 25-year-old has failed to make his mark at Old Trafford, scoring just nine goals in 75 appearances for the club.

A poor two years with the Red Devils hasn't stopped several suitors from registering an interest in the forward's signature - most notably Napoli, Juventus, Roma and Premier League rivals Aston Villa.

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Fiorentina have also shown admiration towards the 6ft5 centre-forward, and according to Gazzetta dello Sport, the Italian side are pushing to sign him as a replacement for Moise Kean.

The former Everton striker has reached a verbal agreement to join Champions League outfit Como on a season-long loan with a €25m obligation to buy, and that transfer could open the door for Zirkzee to join the Serie A stalwarts.

Gazzetta adds that negotiations are underway between United and Fiorentina over a paid loan worth €5m, with sporting director Fabio Paratici seeing the Dutchman as a potential 'major coup'.

As it stands, the plan is for Zirkzee to join La Viola on a season-long loan with an option to buy in 2027, although it remains to be seen whether an obligation to buy will also be included.

Man United would prefer the wantaway centre-forward to leave permanently, but no club has made a permanent offer for him, making it increasingly difficult to offload him before the September 1 deadline.

Zirkzee has three years left to run on his Red Devils contract and is said to be open to a return to Italy.

Man United rivalling Tottenham for Igor Matanovic

Michael Carrick accepts that United will have to sign a replacement for Zirkzee - should he leave Old Trafford - and they may have found their man.

As revealed by transfer expert Ben Jacobs, the 13-time Premier League champions are rivalling Tottenham Hotspur for Freiburg striker Igor Matanovic.

"A left-back seems to be the priority. They’ll be alert also to a No. 9, and if Joshua Zirkzee goes, that also becomes more pressing in the final hours or days of the window, and yet, if Manchester United can’t reinforce, then they obviously have the ability not to sanction a move," Jacobs said via Betway Insider.

Standing at 6ft4 and possessing a similar style and build to Zirkzee, Matanovic scored 11 Bundesliga goals last term and is seen as the heir to Mario Mandzukic in Croatia.

The 23-year-old is also attracting interest from Fiorentina, but if the Serie A outfit land the Man United flop, then they could have a free path to sign the 12-cap Croatia international.

United currently have Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo as options who can all play up top, with Matanovic potentially providing strong competition.