Joshua Zirkzee’s proposed move to AS Roma is being blocked for two key reasons, as a potential January exit remains a possibility for the Manchester United forward.
Manchester United forward Joshua Zirkzee arrived at the club in 2024 for a fee in the region of £35million, but after only one season, he has been relegated to the bench.
With only 82 minutes so far in the 2025/26 Premier League campaign, it is clear that the Dutch forward has fallen out of favour with Ruben Amorim.
This can mainly be put down to the new additions of Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Šeško, who were bought in the summer to solve United’s attacking dilemma.
After seeing his role at the club reduced, a loan move could be on the cards for Zirkzee in the January transfer window, with multiple clubs circling his signature.
Roma chasing Zirkzee
One of the clubs chasing the Dutchman’s signature is AS Roma, who are pursuing the forward ‘without hesitation’, as reported by Gazzetta.
The difficulty with this deal, however, is built into two reasons. One of which is Zirkzee’s seasonal commitment to the Reds, and the other is Roma’s management of their current forwards.
The concern for the 24-year-old concerning a move to the Giallorossi will be that they currently have both Artem Dovbyk and Evan Ferguson occupying their striker slot.
With the upcoming World Cup, Zirkzee will want to work his way into the Netherlands side, which he will only be able to do with improved game time.
Zirkzee’s potential options
For United’s Dutch striker, the next couple of months will be crucial in determining his future at Old Trafford, and maybe even for deciding his chances of heading to the 2026 World Cup.
With Šeško out injured for up to a month, there could be more first-team opportunities on the horizon for Zirkzee where he will get the chance to showcase his qualities.
If he takes his potential chance, then he could be trusted with additional minutes when a couple of United’s star forwards head to the Africa Cup of Nations.
However, if life at Old Trafford simply isn’t working for Zirkzee, then he has options such as West Ham, AC Milan, Juventus, and the aforementioned Roma to reignite his career.
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