Zirkzee set to stay at Manchester United after transfer deadline

Manchester United appears set to retain striker Joshua Zirkzee after a series of collapsed transfer negotiations left the Dutch forward with no viable exit before the summer window closed on September 1. The club has accepted the possibility of Zirkzee remaining at Old Trafford, where he is a popular figure among teammates, despite a summer spent seeking to offload him. The 25-year-old had been the subject of intense transfer speculation, with Italian clubs Fiorentina and Juventus emerging as the primary suitors. Fiorentina had advanced discussions with United over a season-long loan that included an option to buy for approximately £30 million. However, those talks collapsed after Zirkzee himself rejected the move to Tuscany. Juventus then entered negotiations, reportedly reaching an agreement in principle for a loan deal. That prospect was abruptly ended when Juventus agreed to a surprise loan for Newcastle United's Nick Woltemade. The Italian club's manager, Luciano Spalletti, reportedly preferred a more traditional number nine, leading Juventus to secure Woltemade on a season-long loan with a £3.5 million fee and no option to buy.