Joshua Zirkzee is reportedly pushing to leave Manchester United in January after a lack of game time under Rúben Amorim this season.
With Manchester United not involved in European competition and Benjamin Šeško arriving at the club, Joshua Zirkzee could look to leave Old Trafford in January as he seeks regular football to boost his chances of making Ronald Koeman’s World Cup squad.
After a slow start to life at United last season, Zirkzee gradually found his rhythm and finished the 2024-25 campaign in promising form, leaving many fans excited about his potential.
This season, however, he has managed just 90 minutes across all competitions, fuelling uncertainty about his future.
With the 2026 World Cup approaching, the Dutch forward is eager to find consistent playing time elsewhere to strengthen his case for inclusion in Koeman’s plans.
Zirkzee knows where he wants to go next
United signed Zirkzee for £36 million after the then-22-year-old was crowned as the Serie A Young Player of the Season for 2023/24 after a stellar campaign with Bologna.
But, 18 months on in the Premier League, Italian transfer specialist Matte Moretto has reported that the 24-year-old wants to return to Italy for the second half of the season, with Roma boss Gian Piero Gasperini interested.
“As you know, as I have already told you several times, Roma is looking for an attacker,” Moretto said on Fabrizio Romano’s Italian YouTube channel. However, Moretto also made it clear that United have not yet taken a firm view on Zirkzee’s desire to leave.
“Surely the profile that everyone would agree on is that of Joshua Zirkzee, but United have not yet made a decision as far as Zirkzee is concerned. Zirkzee himself has many proposals, [but] he would prefer to return to Serie A, but we are still in the initial evaluation phase.
“In short, Zirkzee is certainly an important profile, one that would guarantee immediate performance to Gasperini and Roma.”
Zirkzee too far down the pecking order at United
So far this season, it’s Zirkzee and Kobbie Manioo who have been identified as the players who have suffered the most from the club’s lack of European fixtures, but it’s the former who has the most challenging task.
Although Mainoo is stuck behind Bruno Fernandes in the midfield pecking order, the Englishman at least comes off the bench most weeks and is still publicly trusted by Amorim. In contrast, Zirkzee appears to be the third-choice option in all three attacking spots.
Zirkzee is a versatile player who can play as either of Amorim’s attacking midfielders or lead the line, but there are others whom the head coach seems to prefer in every position.
On the left, it is Matheus Cunha and Mason Mount, while Šeško is the clear first-choice striker, while Cunha has been serving as a second option. On the right, it’s Bryan Mbeumo and Amad who are best suited to the position, leaving Zirkzee with nowhere to step in.
A move to Italy would certainly boost his chances of securing a spot in the Netherlands’ World Cup squad, while it could also raise his value and allow United to sell him for more in the summer.
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