Manchester United striker Joshua Zirkzee has been urged to consider his future at Old Trafford as he continues to struggle for minutes in Ruben Amorim’s side.
United spent £36.5m to sign Zirzkee from Bologna in the summer of 2024 after the Dutchman enjoyed a productive season in Serie A.
However, the 24-year-old endured a dismal first campaign in England, mustering only seven goals in 49 appearances in all competitions.
Zirkzee attracted plenty of criticism during his first campaign in the English top-flight, and famously had the ignominy of being subbed off by Amorim just 32 minutes into a 2-0 home defeat to Newcastle United.
An injury saw Zirkzee miss large swathes of pre-season, but the Dutch international has found regular minutes particularly hard to come by since his return to fitness.
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The striker only came off the bench for a brief cameo in the win over Brighton last weekend – his first minutes in the entire month of October – and is yet to start a game this season.
And with United’s new-look front-three of Benjamin Sesko, Mattheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeaumo starting to hit their stride, Zirkzee’s opportunities to prove himself in the starting lineup could prove sparse.
Still keen to force his way into the Netherlands’ squad for next summer’s World Cup, Zirkzee is reportedly considering handing in a transfer request ahead of the January window.
Serie A giants Roma and Napoli are said to be interested in the Dutchman’s services, and former United coach Rene Meulensteen believes I Giallorossi could prove the perfect destination.
‘I think a loan would be good for Joshua Zirkzee at his age and obviously, I think he’s still keen on trying to get into the Dutch national team squad for the World Cup, so he needs to play,’ he told CasinoHawks.
‘It’s not a surprise his form has changed because the leagues are so different, they probably have more time and space to play in Italy and it suits him a little bit more, maybe to play that.
‘AS Roma, it’s a big club. So yeah, if I were him, I would definitely consider it, unless he’s got a feeling that somehow he can work his way back into the team.
‘But with the players that United have in that front line, I doubt it.’
Asked earlier in the month if he understood why a player like Zirkzee would be frustrated with his lack of minutes, Amorim said: ‘That is normal.
‘I also know that in our club, everything is a lot of noise, and you have to have news, and players are not playing. They want to play.
‘Like you said, there’s a World Cup. There are agents that listen to the players talking all the time.
‘So, I understand that but they are our players, and we need everyone to have a good season.’
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