Zirkzee Agrees to Fiorentina Move

Joshua Zirkzee has opened the door to a transfer to Fiorentina. The Viola club has submitted an overall offer of approximately 35 million euros to Manchester United and is awaiting a response from the English side. Simultaneously, Fabio Paratici is working on targets Beto and Arnaud Kalimuendo to quickly provide Fabio Grosso with a successor for Moise Kean.

Zirkzee Says Yes to Fiorentina

Fiorentina has achieved its first significant breakthrough in the pursuit of Zirkzee: the Dutch striker has given his consent to a move to Florence, according to Gazzetta. The player wishes to leave Manchester United after two challenging seasons in the Premier League and finds the prospect of returning to Serie A particularly appealing. He experienced the best period of his career in Italy, notably showcasing his technical qualities, link-up play, and significant ability to facilitate teammates' games with Thiago Motta's Bologna, especially in the 2023-24 season. Florence can offer him a central role and the chance to relaunch his career after losing ground in the Red Devils' pecking order.

Now Manchester United Must Respond

The player's willingness alone is not enough to close the deal. Manchester United aims to recoup at least a substantial portion of the 42.5 million euros invested two years ago. Fiorentina has presented a structured proposal involving a €5 million loan fee, accompanied by a buy-out option that is set to become mandatory upon the fulfillment of certain conditions. The projected figure for a permanent transfer would be around 30 million euros, bringing the total value of the deal to approximately 35 million euros, excluding bonuses. The English club would not accept a simple buy-out option, even a high one, as they want concrete guarantees on the player's future sale.

Paratici Leverages Advantage Over Juventus

The excellent relationship between Fabio Paratici and Zirkzee's agent played a significant role in the acceleration of the deal. The Viola's sporting director took advantage of Juventus's slowdown; the Bianconeri are unable to finalize the operation without the departure of Jonathan David. While Juventus waited for a solution for the Canadian forward, Fiorentina continued negotiations with Manchester United and secured the player's approval. Zirkzee had been a primary target for Juventus for weeks, but their inability to free up an attacking spot allowed Fiorentina to overtake them.

Contacts Also for Kalimuendo

The third candidate is Arnaud Kalimuendo from Nottingham Forest. The profile is highly regarded by the Viola management, but the player has not yet definitively agreed to the transfer. Fiorentina is trying to convince him by highlighting the protagonist role left vacant by Kean's departure. Kalimuendo is quicker and more mobile than Beto and can play in various attacking positions. However, Nottingham Forest is not inclined to offer particularly favorable terms. The relationship between the clubs is also fueled by the ongoing negotiations for Dodô. The Brazilian full-back is on his way out of Fiorentina and is of interest to the English club, as well as Olympiacos.