Roma close to Joshua Zirkzee after player green light - structure talks with Man United accelerate

Roma have secured Joshua Zirkzee’s approval with agent terms aligned, and are now in advanced talks with Manchester United over the deal structure. Roma want a loan with an option for June due to UEFA spending limits in January, while United prefer a permanent sale. Both clubs are exploring creative clauses to bridge the gap, including an obligation triggered by performance targets. The feeling from both camps is quietly optimistic. Zirkzee’s technical profile fits Daniele De Rossi’s system, and United will consider the move if they secure cover. The next 48-72 hours will be crucial for fee, salary coverage and trigger conditions.

Negotiations are centered on a loan plus buy option model that suits Roma’s UEFA settlement conditions for January activity. Manchester United are asking for clarity on the final fee, buy conditions and salary coverage before giving the green light. Zirkzee has indicated willingness to join Roma, with intermediary and commission matters aligned. United’s stance remains a preference for a permanent solution in January, yet both sides are open to a structured pathway that protects valuation. Timelines are tight as the window approaches, and internal discussions at United include contingency planning for a replacement before approving any exit.

🚨 BREAKING: Roma have Zirkzee’s approval and agent commissions are sorted — now they must find an agreement with Manchester United. Roma want a loan + buy option, but United prefer a permanent sale in January. Roma can’t buy in January due to UEFA restrictions, so they want

@UtdXclusive

Impact Analysis

If closed on Roma’s preferred terms, this would be a smart, low-risk, high-upside play for Daniele De Rossi. Zirkzee thrives with his back to goal, linking midfield runners and wingers, then slipping into the box late. That suits Paulo Dybala and Lorenzo Pellegrini, who both love third-man runs and combinations between the lines. Roma have lacked a consistent reference point to knit phases since reshuffles in the forward line and Tammy Abraham’s gradual reintegration. Zirkzee offers gravity: he draws defenders, creates passing lanes and adds calm in transition. He is not a pure penalty-box poacher, but his chance creation and press triggers can elevate Roma’s collective output.

For Manchester United, the calculus is financial and sporting. A permanent sale in January would support squad rebalance and compliance, but a loan with obligation can still protect valuation if the triggers are well written. United staff have been impressed by Zirkzee’s touch and ball security, yet minutes and roles have fluctuated. Reallocating resources toward areas of immediate need is under consideration. The key hinge is replacement planning. If United source short-term cover, a conditional deal becomes more palatable. For Roma, salary-sharing and a realistic final fee will define whether this crosses the line quickly.

Reaction

Fan chatter split fast but leaned toward a pragmatic exit if United safeguard value. Some supporters argue a summer-price commitment, around a mid-range fee and full wage coverage until June, would be clean and decisive. Others insist on an obligation, not a soft option, to avoid another long saga. There’s also a camp that wants United to hold until a replacement arrives, name-checking the academy pipeline and the risk of leaving the squad short in a key period. A few voices simply want clarity: either back him as a starter or move him on with a strong sell-on and buy-back clause.

Roma fans sound energized. The idea of Zirkzee dovetailing with Dybala and Pellegrini has people picturing quick one-touch triangles at the Olimpico. Many accept that January spending limits mean the club must be clever with structures. The mood is optimistic provided the option becomes an obligation under accessible targets. Across the wider football timeline, neutral observers say this is the right kind of move for a club that relies on technical security and collective pressing, while noting United’s need to control downside with well-defined triggers.

Social reactions

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EVject (@EVject)

30 mil in January will help us a lot

king walker (@FrancisMen73749)

Replace Zirkzee with Greenwood

Ayman Ameen (@A_sleemy)

Prediction

Most likely scenario: Roma and United settle on a loan with obligation triggered by achievable milestones. Expect conditions like a minimum appearance threshold, Roma’s qualification target, or team points accumulation, paired with salary coverage through June. A final fee could be staged, with add-ons tied to goals or European participation, and a United sell-on to preserve upside. This lets Roma comply with their January limits and gives United clarity over eventual proceeds.

Alternate pathway: United hold until late in the window while working on short-term cover. If no replacement is secured, the club could defer any exit to the summer, revisit pricing, and keep optionality. A third route would be a loan with a near-certain obligation and a protective buy-back for United, which is gaining favor with Premier League sellers. Timelines point to movement within days, not weeks, because both clubs need early-window certainty. If talks progress as expected, medicals and media duties could follow swiftly, positioning Zirkzee to integrate under De Rossi before February’s fixture crunch.

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Conclusion

This is one of those deals that makes football sense and financial sense, provided the structure is right. Roma get the profile they have been missing: a selfless link forward who elevates teammates and gives De Rossi more layers in the final third. United maintain control through triggers and future upside, rather than forcing an imperfect January sale. From my conversations today, both camps are working the same problem from different angles, which is usually a sign a compromise is near.

I’ve covered enough late-night calls between sporting directors to recognize the pattern. When player approval and commissions are done early, technical talks accelerate. The non-negotiables are now clear: Roma need a compliant January mechanism, United need valuation protection. Wrap those into a loan plus obligation and you have a pathway. If nothing derails the replacement check on United’s side, expect this to land. It feels close, and football-wise, it is a snug fit.