Juventus director responds to transfer links with Man Utd striker Joshua Zirkzee | OneFootball

Juventus technical director Cristiano Giuntoli has played down rumours linking the Italian giants with a move for Manchester United striker Joshua Zirkzee.

A recent report from Italy had claimed that Zirkzee already wanted to call time on his Man Utd career despite only joining the club over the summer, with Juventus one of the sides most intrigued by a move for the Dutchman.

There were suggestions that Zirkzee wanted to reunite with former Bologna manager Thiago Motta, who now resides in the Juventus dugout. The duo enjoyed an excellent working relationship during their spell together in northern Italy, with the centre-forward scoring 11 times in Serie A last season as Bologna qualified for the Champions League.

Such impressive form persuaded Man Utd, then led by Zirkzee's compatriot Erik ten Hag, to splash £36.5m on the former Bayern Munich man, but he has made a slow start to life in English football.

Zirkzee has endured a rough start in Manchester / Gabriel Kuchta/GettyImages

The 23-year-old has scored just three times for the Red Devils, one coming on his debut against Fulham and the other two arriving during the recent 4-0 thrashing of Everton.

Responding to links with Zirkzee ahead of the January transfer window, Juventus director Giuntoli was coy on the club's plans as he pledged their commitment to the injured Arkadiusz Milik.

"We are waiting for Milik," said Giuntoli. "I can just say that Zirkzee is a very good player but he's under contract at Man Utd. I can't add more now, we're focusing on completely different things now."

Juventus manager Motta was similarly elusive in a press conference several weeks ago when discussing transfer business, stating: "There's great harmony with the club on the transfer market, but I don't want to talk about it now."