11 hours ago
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74 minutes this season
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Joshua Zirkzee is destined to leave Manchester United in January with the striker growing increasingly frustrated at his lack of minutes. The 24-year-old hasn’t started a single game this season and he’s only played 74 minutes across four substitute appearances. Zirkzee has been an unused sub in five Premier League games this campaign and he’s not scored a league goal since last December.
Despite flashes of his unquestionable technical ability, Zirkzee’s career at Old Trafford has failed to ignite since his €42.5 million move from Bologna in 2024. The former Bayern Munich youngster has scored just seven goals in 53 appearances and it’s understood that he’s desperate to play regularly to preserve his fading World Cup dreams with the Netherlands. With United not participating in European competition this season, Zirkzee’s opportunities to impress will be severely limited and we’ve analysed four potential exit destinations in January.
West Ham United
West Ham are currently the frontrunners to secure Zirkzee’s signature and they desperately need attacking reinforcements. The Hammers are languishing in 19th place in the Premier League table and they are firmly engulfed in a relegation battle. No club has scored less than West Ham (5) in the league and they only have two senior strikers, Niclas Füllkrug and Callum Wilson. The duo are both in their thirties and have struggled with injuries and Zirkzee would unquestionably be an upgrade and would play regularly.
Roma
Zirkzee really impressed during his two year spell at Bologna and he still has admirers in Italy. The slower pace of Serie A suits Zirkzee’s more languid style and technical skills with Roma eyening a potential move in January. It’s been reported that I Giallorossi are considering terminating Evan Ferguson’s loan in January and Zirkzee and they’ve earmarked Zirkzee as his replacement. The Dutch striker was hardly prolific in Serie A with 13 goals in 57 games but he did show promise.
Juventus
Juventus were strongly linked with a move for Zirkzee before he joined Man United and speculation persisted last summer. Juve could feasibly reignite their interest in the striker as they look to improve on an underwhelming start to the season. The Old Lady have only scored nine goals in seven Serie A games and there’s huge question marks over Dušan Vlahović’s future.
Everton
It’s not widely known that Zirkzee played two games for Everton on trial in a youth tournament in 2017. Current Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman was in charge of the Toffees at the time and Zirkzee seriously considered signing for them from Feyenoord, but he eventually joined Bayern Munich. Everton are reportedly interested in a loan move for Zirkzee in January and it could be a perfect fit with Beto and Thierno Barry falling to impress this season.
