According to European newspapers, the Old Trafford club will consider recruiting Dusan Vlahovic if Zirkzee leaves the club before the summer transfer window closes. Accordingly, coach Michael Carrick is said to want to add an experienced striker to maintain the depth of the squad.
Vlahovic is currently a free agent after his contract with Juventus expired at the beginning of the summer. The 26-year-old striker has just closed the season with 10 goals in the Turin team's colors and is receiving attention from many clubs.
Before Manchester United, Barcelona put the Serbian striker on the target list to strengthen the attack. In addition, Besiktas has also sent an offer to persuade Vlahovic to move to Turkey to play.
Meanwhile, the future of Joshua Zirkzee is closely tied to Juventus. The Serie A team wants to bring the Dutch international back to Italy on a one-season loan contract, with a buyout clause next summer.
However, Manchester United does not want to accept this option. The Old Trafford team prioritizes selling Zirkzee outright in the summer to collect budget to continue reinvesting in the force.
However, the "Red Devils" leadership also determined that they would only agree to let the Dutch striker leave when a suitable replacement has been found. Therefore, Vlahovic has become one of the notable choices thanks to his top-level playing experience and the fact that he does not have to pay a transfer fee.
The Serbian striker was once one of the most sought-after strikers in Europe. Four years ago, Arsenal pursued Vlahovic fiercely before he decided to move from Fiorentina to Juventus. Although he did not maintain his explosive form as expected in Turin, the 26-year-old striker is still highly appreciated for his finishing ability, tackling ability and experience in major tournaments.
In the context that the transfer market is still more than a month away from closing, the future of both Zirkzee and Vlahovic is likely to have more new developments. For coach Michael Carrick, whether to keep or sell the Dutch striker will be a decisive factor in the plan to add personnel to the attack in the remainder of the summer transfer window.
