Everton make late deadline day offer to sign £36.5m Man Utd star | Football

Everton have made an eleventh hour bid to sign Joshua Zirkzee on loan from Manchester United.

Zirkzee, 24, has been the subject of interest from Italy with Juventus thought to be leading the race all summer.

Fiorentina emerged as new front runners last week but a deal to join La Viola fell through.

Everton have now made a late move to sign the Dutchman with just hours of the transfer window remaining, Sky Sports report.

Zirkzee was an unused substitute in United’s opening game of the season against Hull City last weekend, left on the bench despite Benjamin Sesko not being deemed fit enough with Amad Diallo also missing out through injury.

He failed to come off the bench again in Sunday’s victory over Ipswich Town.

Everton’s interest in Zirkzee emerges with RMC Sport reporting the Toffees’ efforts to sign Folarin Balogun from Monaco are in trouble with the USA striker failing a medical.

United have explored signing another forward to provide cover and competition for Sesko up front but their inability to offload Zirkzee appeared to have halted those plans.

It remains to be seen if any late deal with Everton changes that situation.

United had also hoped to sign another left-back before the transfer deadline but that no longer appears to be the case with the club not planning a late move for Barcelona’s Alejandro Balde.

Talks to sign the highly-rated midfielder Louis Page from Leicester City have also come to a halt.

While there have been flashes of brilliance, Zirkzee’s time at United has ultimately been undermined by his poor goal return.

The Dutchman has scored just five goals in the Premier League since his £36.5million arrival from Bologna in the summer of 2024, nine in total across 75 appearances.

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