One Manchester United star has to try and take advantage of an unexpected boost this pre-season and push his way into Ruben Amorim’s preferred starting XI.
After their dreadful 2024/25 campaign, Manchester United were expected to make significant moves in the summer transfer window.
That seemed like it was the case four days into the window. By 4 June, the club had agreed a deal to sign Matheus Cunha, launched an opening bid for Bryan Mbeumo and convinced Bruno Fernandes to stay.
The next priority would be signing a centre forward but with pre-season training now upon us, Mbeumo is still not signed and there is no developments regarding a striker signing.
While a deal for Mbeumo seems inevitable at some stage, zero player sales means that a striker signing is unlikely for the upcoming weeks unless a surprise exit occurs soon.
United fans were hoping to enter pre-season with a brand new no.9 but that is not going to happen. Though, for one player, this could be a boost.
Zirkzee must take advantage of unexpected pre-season boost
Joshua Zirkzee started to win over United supporters last season after a difficult start. He began to get used to the physical demands and then his technical ability was on show.
While the Dutchman looked more comfortable in the no.10 roles in Ruben Amorim’s system, he is unlikely to get much game-time there with the likes of Cunha, Amad and hopefully Mbeumo involved.
His best chance of regular game-time is providing himself in that central role – having goalscoring forwards either side of him could help that too.
Zirkzee ended the last campaign with an injury but is fully fit again entering pre-season and he might not have much competition in the position for these opening weeks ahead of the new season.
Rasmus Højlund’s future remains in the balance and even if a striker signing does come in, it is starting to feel unlikely that it will not be some world-class talent who will immediately take that striker spot.
Zirkzee’s linkup could be crucial to pushing into XI
Ideally, by the time United play their first pre-season fixture against Leeds on 19 July, they will have Cunha and Mbeumo ready to play in those two no.10 positions.
Zirkzee will then have to try and prove that he has the abilities to compliment those two players despite not being the profile of centre-forward that Amorim wants.
The Portuguese boss wants someone with a similar profile to Højlund – with those direct runs in behind – and that is definitely not Zirkzee’s game.
But it is the Dutchman’s job over pre-season to show why Amorim should adapt. If he can strike up positive relationships with new attacking signings then he could push his way as United’s starting striker heading into the new season.
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