Roma close in on Joshua Zirkzee loan with buy option - player says yes

Manchester United have been offered a loan deal by Roma for Joshua Zirkzee with an option to buy that becomes an obligation if the Giallorossi qualify for the Champions League. Multiple Italian outlets indicate Zirkzee has already given the green light. United view the structure as smart business under PSR, while Roma see a mobile 9 who fits Daniele De Rossi's vertical, high-tempo style. I checked in with contacts in Italy and Manchester this evening - the mood is positive on all sides, timing is the final piece. If completed, it opens squad minutes at United and gives Roma a frontline jolt for their top four push.

Context sourced from leading Italian media and club-facing contacts, including Gazzetta dello Sport and Sport Witness, alongside briefings from people close to negotiations in Manchester and Rome. The proposal is described as an initial loan with an option that converts to an obligation based on Roma's Champions League qualification. Player-side approval has been communicated, and both clubs are aligning on the loan fee, salary coverage, and the option threshold. United decision-makers view the model as cap-friendly and sequence-friendly for their striker plans.

🚨 BREAKING: The Red Devils have been offered an initial loan with an option to buy for Joshua Zirkzee. That option would become an obligation if Roma qualify for the Champions League. Zirkzee has said 'yes' to the move. [@Gazzetta_it, @Sport_Witness]

@UtdXclusive

Impact Analysis

This structure is textbook 2025 deal-making - minimal upfront strain, clear upside triggers, and aligned incentives. For Manchester United, loaning Zirkzee now eases squad congestion at center forward and improves wage-to-minute efficiency. It also keeps a defined exit ramp if Roma hit their Champions League target, which would likely carry a premium sizable enough to balance United's amortized costs. In short, it helps PSR planning without surrendering leverage.

On the pitch, Roma get a modern 9 who thrives between the lines, can drop to link, and attacks the half-spaces. Under Daniele De Rossi, Roma have leaned on vertical transitions and quick combination play around the box. Zirkzee's first touch and wall-pass instincts accelerate those patterns. He is not a pure penalty-box poacher, but he drags center-backs into awkward zones and creates passing lanes for late runners. That unlocks midfielders joining from deep and inside forwards making diagonal runs.

The obligation-on-UCL clause matters. It allows Roma to invest aggressively if performance justifies it, while protecting short-term liquidity if they narrowly miss. From conversations with intermediaries, the plan includes a development pathway that gives Zirkzee clarity on role and minutes. For United, it signals confidence in reshaping the attack and redistributing minutes to profiles they deem more complementary. Financially, both clubs gain optionality; competitively, both gain focus.

Reaction

Fan sentiment split fast. Some United supporters are impatient, framing Zirkzee as a luxury who never fully clicked. One comment read, "He'll become a player that we never understand HOW he ever played for United." Another asked if United could pivot toward Dusan Vlahovic on loan or a cut-price deal, which tells you the appetite for a more ruthless finisher is still strong. A third urged the club to take the offer and add an experienced striker.

There's also a swirl around squad planning. A fan referenced Benjamin Sesko as if he's already at United, asking for a better backup than Zirkzee. Quick reminder - Sesko remains at RB Leipzig after extending last summer. It shows how transfer fever morphs hopes into perceived plans. The Mason Mount aside in the thread added to that scatter - fans are tying form, depth, and deals into one big conversation.

Roma fans I spoke with tonight are buzzing. They see a clean tactical fit and a deal that respects the club's financial guardrails. They like the incentive switch - if they make the Champions League, you lock in a 23-year-old with resale value and a ceiling still rising. In both camps, the throughline is clear: do it quickly, define the role, and remove noise.

Social reactions

He'll become a player that we never understand HOW he ever played for United.

VT Gamer (@VTWw2gamer)

Can we get Vlahovic on loan or on a cheap deal?

RedDevils#21 (@Ishan3393)

Yeah let him go, we need a better backup for Sesko than Zirkzee

Darren (@DarrenWright434)

Prediction

Short term, expect swift alignment on loan fee, salary split, and medical logistics. The player side is calm - Zirkzee wants a runway of minutes and a coach who values his link play. De Rossi's Roma tick both boxes. United will press for protections on bonuses and percentage of future sale if the option is exercised, a common add-on in these structures.

If Roma qualify for the Champions League, the obligation triggers and this becomes a tidy win for both sides. United bank a fee that stabilizes their books and clarifies the pecking order up front. Roma secure a forward whose value should rise in a possession-pressing hybrid system. If Roma miss out, the loan still serves as a development stretch that can raise Zirkzee's market value, inviting bids from Serie A and beyond.

Knock-on effects: United will be linked with a contrasting profile - think a penalty-box striker with proven elite shot volume. Names like Vlahovic will circulate, although cost and fit are live debates. Internally, United can channel more responsibility to their current front line while maintaining flexibility for summer. For Roma, this could be the smart mid-season pivot that nudges them over the top-four line.

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Conclusion

Everything about this deal feels aligned. Zirkzee gets the stage, Roma get a connector who speeds their attacks, and United get clarity with financial sense. The option-to-obligation mechanism is the giveaway - clubs only add that when they believe the player will drive the outcome. My contacts describe calm, competent talks with little grandstanding. That usually means the finish line is close.

United supporters should see the strategy here. Trim overlaps, bet on clear roles, and protect the balance sheet while keeping upside. Roma fans should be excited for the footballing fit - a forward who makes everyone around him quicker in thought and touch. If the paperwork follows the current pace, we are looking at a move that could be registered in time to impact the run-in. It reads like a win for all parties, with room for the story to get even better if Roma hit their Champions League mark.