One of Manchester United’s struggling star’s escape from Old Trafford in January has yet to be given the green light.
Manchester United will be taking on Newcastle United in the only Boxing Day fixture this season. Ruben Amorim’s men will need to put the disappointment at Villa Park behind them quickly.
With the January transfer window edging closer, now is the time when many of the rumours that have been circulated throughout the season either become more concrete or stay as just gossip.
With Bryan Mbeumo, Amad and Noussair Mazaroui all away at AFCON, and Bruno Fernandes set to be out for a month with injury, this winter window is setting up to be a busy one for the club in terms of incomings.
However, the future of the likes of Kobbie Mainoo and Joshua Zirkzee has been up in the air ever since last summer, with both linked to moves to the Serie A, but one appears to have been put on hold for now.
Zirkzee’s move to Roma on hold
Zirkzee has had a disappointing season so far. The Dutchman has played only 372 minutes across all competitions this season, with only three starts and one goal.
Throughout the course of this season, there have been heavy links with a return to Serie A for the forward, with Roma being pinpointed as the destination.
Recently, it was reported by Gazzetta Dello Sport that the striker was very close to a move to Roma, with manager Gian Piero Gasperini set to return their other loanee, Evan Ferguson, back to Brighton to bring in Zirkzee.
However, according to Rob Dawson at ESPN, a move is currently on ice. With AFCON absentees, as well as a growing injury list, the club is wary of sanctioning any move without a replacement.
Dawson added that, according to his sources, contrary to Gazzetta, the club has yet to hold official club-to-club talks.
Smart decision to not sanction a deal
While it is ruthless to make a player stay for the time being when they want minutes, it is unfortunately something United need to do.
With Mbeumo and Amad away, the only senior forward options United have are Zirkzee, Matheus Cunha, Benjamin Sesko and Mason Mount. With both Fernandes and Mainoo injured, there is a chance Mount could shift to the midfield with Lisandro Martinez after Ugarte’s disappointing runout against Villa if Casemiro does not immediately return to the side.
Should that happen, there would be no option but for Zirkzee to start, with Shea Lacey being the only other attacker on the bench outside the senior options.
Antoine Semenyo is preferring a move to Manchester City, according to David Ornstein, so until a suitable replacement arrives in the forward department then Amorim has every right to hold on to Zirkzee for now.
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