Fresh reports from Italy suggest Manchester United may have softened their stance on Joshua Zirkzee’s future.
In the lead-up to the winter window opening, it was claimed that United would block any potential exit for their No.11 in order to keep the squad full to the brim with options.
Have United U-turned on Zirkzee’s potential departure?
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By doing so, the Red Devils believed they would have the best possible chance of turning their fortunes around under Ruben Amorim – until he was relieved of his duties at the start of the month.
Now that the side have no cup fixtures to accommodate throughout the second half of the campaign, there is perhaps an acceptance that the likes of Zirkzee, who faces an uphill battle for game time, would benefit from a mid-season departure on loan.
*Zirkzee in the league this term (Transfermarkt)
The 24-year-old has been unable to feature since Michael Carrick took the reins over a fortnight ago due to an unspecified injury issue, so he will be seeking clarification over the role he’s likely to play when he’s match fit.
Why Zirkzee might consider a move elsewhere
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Zirkzee will be vying with a host of in-form teammates for minutes from now until the summer, with the likes of Bryan Mbeumo, Bruno Fernandes and Amad Diallo now mainstays in attack.
The trio, along with the now-injured Patrick Dorgu, have been thriving so much that both Benjamin Sesko and Matheus Cunha were dropped to the bench for the wins over Manchester City and Arsenal – even though the former had scored three times in two matches before Carrick was appointed.
Meanwhile, Zirkzee could look favourably towards a move to Juventus due to the time he spent in Serie A with Bologna from 2022 to 2024.
Italian outlet Gazzetta dello Sport (via Football Italia) suggests that if a deal were to be agreed between the Old Lady and United, it’d likely be in the form of a loan with an option to buy.
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