Zirkzee’s Future at United Amid Increased Speculation

This season, Joshua Zirkzee has made a total of 11 appearances for Manchester United across all competitions. However, only four of those appearances were as a starter, accumulating 372 minutes of playtime, during which he scored a single goal—an equalizer in a 2-1 victory against Crystal Palace in early December.

Zirkzee has been the subject of transfer speculation since the summer, particularly regarding a potential return to Serie A, where he previously enjoyed success with Bologna.

According to a report by ESPN, Manchester United will wait until the later stages of the January transfer window to determine whether they will allow Zirkzee to leave. The club is currently managing without their attackers Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo, who are participating in the Africa Cup of Nations. Additionally, captain Bruno Fernandes is expected to miss approximately one month due to an injury sustained during the recent match against Aston Villa. Midfielder Kobbie Mainoo, who is also rumored to be leaving in January, is sidelined with injuries for an unspecified period.

Given the limited options, manager Amorim may need to rely on Zirkzee more frequently in the upcoming weeks. The Netherlands international had three consecutive starts from November to December against Everton, Crystal Palace, and West Ham but has since played only 24 minutes off the bench in the subsequent three matches.

In the defeat against Aston Villa, Amorim turned to academy graduates Jack Fletcher and Shea Lacey, which highlights the importance of retaining a senior player like Zirkzee in the squad. Moreover, Manchester United’s pursuit of a new striker has faced a setback, as Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo has expressed a preference for a £65 million transfer to Manchester City.

ESPN further reports that both West Ham and AS Roma are interested in acquiring Zirkzee from United, with an initial valuation of £30.5 million. However, AC Milan has reportedly cooled its interest as they are nearing a deal for West Ham striker Niclas Fullkrug.