One of Michael Carrick’s current squad members may be heading to the Netherlands this summer after being identified as a dream target for PSV Eindhoven.
Manchester United had an extremely quiet 2026 winter transfer window, with no significant arrivals or departures involving Michael Carrick’s senior squad.
While the club did approve several Academy loan moves on deadline day to give young prospects valuable first-team experience, any major decisions concerning the men’s first team were postponed until the summer.
One notable development in January was the news that Casemiro will depart when his contract expires at the end of the season, underlining the need for United to recruit multiple midfielders in the upcoming summer window.
That said, with uncertainty still surrounding who will be in charge for the 2026/27 season, the club are continuing to shape and refine their transfer strategy ahead of the summer.
Zirkzee a dream target for PSV this summer
With United wanting incomings, there will have to be players exiting the club to raise funds and make way. One of those last month was expected to be Joshua Zirkzee, who was being routinely linked with a move to AS Roma amid his lack of game time.
However, in the final week of the window, with Rúben Amorim gone and Carrick in charge, the Dutchman reportedly informed the club that he had changed his mind and wished to stay until at least the end of the campaign.
Since then, fresh reports from Dutch outlet VI have emerged describing the possibility of the 24-year-old returning to his homeland in the summer.
According to the report, Eredivisie league leaders PSV Eindhoven see Zirkzee as a “dream” striker target who is a “perfect match” for manager Peter Bosz. PSV are currently storming the division, sitting 17 points clear at the top of the table.
Does Zirkzee have a role to play under Carrick?
While Zirkzee feels almost certain to leave the club this summer, given that he is behind Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha, and Benjamin Šeško in the pecking order up front and has no other clear place in the team, he could still have a role to play this season.
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The striker returned to United’s matchday squad against Fulham after missing the wins over Manchester City and Arsenal due to injury, and Carrick himself admitted that amid Zirkzee’s return, he is very much looking forward to working with the Dutchman in the coming months.
Carrick has so far been fantastic at managing his team, with his substitutions having helped United win their last three fixtures. Cunha came off the bench to assist United’s second goal against City and score the winner against Arsenal, while Šeško’s last-minute winner secured three points against Fulham.
While Zirkzee is yet to feature under the Englishman, there is little doubt that, once Carrick sees him on the training pitch, the United boss will be able to figure out a role for him to play across United’s final 14 games of the campaign.
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