Man Utd discuss SENSATIONAL swap deal for €50m flop

Carlo Garganese

• Updated: 9 Feb 2025 09:13 GMT
• 3 min read

Manchester United and Juventus could arrange a sensational swap deal this summer involving summer flops Joshua Zirkzee and Douglas Luiz.

That is according to Tuttosport, who report that United and Juventus will hold talks over the two players ahead of the summer transfer window - and a swap deal could be on the table.

Both Zirkzee and Douglas Luis were big-money signings for their respective clubs last summer but both have been unmitigated disasters.

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Zirkzee joined Man Utd last summer in a €42.5 million move from Bologna.

The 23-year-old Zirkzee was one of the standout players in Serie A last season, and he was often compared to former Milan and Barcelona star Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

The striker scored on his Premier League debut against Fulham but he has struggled badly since then and took months until he scored another goal.

He has played sporadically under new United manager Amorim but has continuted to disappoint.

As for Luiz, he arrived at Juventus last summer as part of one of the most bizarre deals of the window. With Aston Villa desperate to raise funds, they agreed to flip their star midfielder for €50 million and two players (Samuel Iling-Junior and Enzo Barrenechea).

Luiz has been widely mocked for a string of disastrous performances and he is well down the pecking order in Turin, having also struggled with his fitness.

Juventus tried to sign Zirkzee in January, while United made a late bid for Luiz at the end of the winter window.

Both deals couldn't be completed but Tuttosport reports that the summer window could see them swap clubs.

United are in the market for a central midfielder, and Luiz was one of the best midfielders in the Premier League last season.

Juventus, meanwhile, will need a new striker as Dusan Vlahovic is likely to leave.

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Zirkzee under Motta at Bologna

The Dutchman worked successfully with Bianconeri manager Thiago Motta at Bologna last season.

Zirkzee led Bologna to a shock qualification into this season’s Champions League under Motta.

Zirkzee delivered 12 goals and seven assists in all competitions as Bologna finished fifth in Serie A.

He was the key man for a Bologna team who performed well above their weight under Motta to qualify for the Champions League.

Standing at 6ft 4in, Zirkzee is a giant of a striker who at Bologna was expert at holding up the ball and bringing others into play.

Zirkzee went to Euro 2024 with Netherlands but barely featured under Ronald Koeman.