Manchester United close door on Joshua Zirkzee’s loan exit

The race for Joshua Zirkzee is heating up, but Roma have hit a significant roadblock in negotiations with Manchester United.

According to the latest update from Sky Italia, the Premier League giants are currently playing hardball over the terms of the Dutchman’s potential departure.

While Roma had hoped to secure the forward on a initial loan deal to bolster their attacking options for the second half of the season, United have reportedly “closed the door” on a temporary exit. The Red Devils are currently only willing to entertain a permanent transfer, as they look to recoup their investment and streamline their squad following a difficult first half of the campaign.

Despite the firm stance from Manchester, Roma is not backing down. The Giallorossi management is “pushing hard” to find a breakthrough, buoyed by the fact that they already have a total agreement over personal terms with Zirkzee himself. The former Bologna star is keen on a return to Italy and has green-lit the move to the capital.

The standoff now rests on whether Roma can adjust their financial package—perhaps through a loan with a high-value mandatory obligation—to satisfy United’s demand for a definitive sale. With the player’s “yes” already in their pocket, Roma will likely spend the coming days trying to soften United’s resolve.