In today’s edition of Il Corriere dello Sport, journalist Ivan Zazzaroni reviews possible January market moves by Italian clubs. Several teams are searching for a striker, including Massimiliano Allegri’s Milan led by Igli Tare. The source reports Roma and Milan asked for information in recent weeks about Joshua Zirkzee, the Dutch centre forward who moved from Bologna to Manchester United in the summer of 2024 after weeks of interest from the Rossoneri.
Manchester United, set to lose attacking players soon due to the Africa Cup of Nations, replied with a firm stance until the end of January. Any deal would require a permanent transfer. The former Bayern Munich player carries a valuation of 35 million euros, though a loan with an obligation to buy might soften United’s position. Beyond the price, a major issue stands out. Waiting until the end of the winter window means reaching matchday 22. No guarantee exists that scenarios and squad needs stay unchanged until then.
Among the striker profiles presented to Massimiliano Allegri appears Niclas Füllkrug, a 32-year-old forward on the way out of West Ham. Milan tracked the German in the past during his Borussia Dortmund spell. The spell with the Hammers nears an end, and the technical profile mirrors the striker type, a Giroud-like figure, described by Tare at the start of the summer window. According to Corriere dello Sport, approval from ownership for further market spending remains a key point. The picture shifts sharply if Santi Gimenez and Ruben Loftus-Cheek depart. In such a case, Tare would place an investment on a top-level number nine.
Finally, a new angle emerges involving Gabriel Jesus. The Brazilian recently returned from a long anterior cruciate ligament injury suffered in January 2024. Nearly eleven months out and close to fifty matches missed followed. The former Manchester City player stayed sidelined for almost a full year. The return to action appears positive. In a World Cup year, the aim focuses on a trip to the United States with Brazil, which requires steady playing time. Arteta holds strong regard for the player, yet Arsenal invested heavily in Viktor Gyökeres from Sporting during the summer and faces congestion in the striker department. Gabriel Jesus holds a contract until June 2027 and earns around 14 million pounds gross per year. From January to June, wages amount to slightly over three million euros. A chance worth attention.
