Juventus Targets Zirkzee and Kolo Muani for Summer Rebuild

The summer rebuild in Turin has a clear target: a new attack. And Juventus are moving fast.

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Manchester United forward Joshua Zirkzee has given his initial green light to a move to Juventus, with the club now locked in talks over a loan deal for the Dutch international. Negotiations with his agent, Kia Joorabchian, are described as intense, as the Bianconeri try to shape a deal that works for all sides.

At the same time, Juventus are pushing hard for Paris Saint-Germain striker Randal Kolo Muani, with a €40 million move being worked on by CEO Giovanni Carnevali, again per Gazzetta. Two strikers, two different profiles, one clear objective: to transform an attack that has looked short of edge and depth.

Massara’s long chase

Zirkzee is not a name plucked from nowhere. New football director Ricky Massara has admired him for some time and tried to sign him for Roma in the winter window. That move never materialised, but the interest never faded.

The 23-year-old’s last full season in Serie A with Bologna showed why. Twelve goals and seven assists in the 2023-24 campaign underlined his ability to drop deep, link play and still arrive in the box with purpose. A modern, technically polished forward, comfortable between the lines and with his back to goal.

His Premier League spell, though, has been a grind. Since moving to England, Zirkzee has struggled to secure a regular starting role, making just 19 starts in 68 league appearances over two seasons. The talent is not in doubt; the rhythm and continuity have been missing.

Juventus believe that can change in Turin. His profile is seen as a natural fit for Luciano Spalletti’s tactical ideas, with the coach keen on a mobile, technically sharp No. 9 who can knit together midfield and attack.

Kolo Muani to bring the pace

If Zirkzee offers refinement, Kolo Muani brings raw speed and verticality. Juventus see the Frenchman as the runner who can stretch defences, attack space and give Spalletti a completely different option in transition.

Carnevali is working to close a €40 million agreement with PSG, confident that pairing Kolo Muani’s pace with Zirkzee’s touch and vision would give Juventus a far more unpredictable and aggressive frontline. One to feet, one in behind. One to create, one to constantly threaten the last line.

The plan is clear: build a front line with variety, not just volume.

Injury urgency and ticking clock

This is not just long-term planning. There is urgency. An injury to young Italian striker Jeff Ekhator has stripped Spalletti of one of his emerging attacking options and underlined how thin the squad can look when absences bite.

That setback has only sharpened Juventus’ stance in the market. The club want both deals advanced quickly enough for the new arrivals to integrate during pre-season, absorb Spalletti’s demands and build chemistry before the competitive games start.

Spalletti, for his part, is now waiting on firm timelines from the board. The coach needs clarity as he shapes his core squad and drills his attacking patterns. The ideas are there on the tactics board; he now needs the forwards to execute them.

A demanding start

There will be little margin for error once the season begins. Juventus open their Serie A campaign away to newly promoted Frosinone on August 23. On paper, it looks manageable. In reality, it is the kind of early fixture that can expose a team still searching for fluency.

By then, the question is simple: will Spalletti be walking out with the attack he has imagined all summer, or still waiting for the final pieces to arrive?