Manchester United could be set to lose one of their players during the January transfer window.
Joshua Zirkzee (left) pictured on the Manchester United bench(Image: Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images)
Joshua Zirkzee’s time at Manchester United looks to be in its closing stages as we begin to creep further towards the January transfer window opening.
MEN Sport reported on Thursday that Zirkzee is looking to leave United sooner rather than later, with the winter market seen as his time to request a departure. Struggling West Ham are thought to be keen on the Dutchman, who is searching for more minutes ahead of next summer’s World Cup.
It is believed that Zirkzee is keen to leave United to reignite his stuttering career and few can blame him. The 24-year-old has yet to start a match this season for the Reds.
He played nearly an hour in the victory over Burnley but his introduction came after Matheus Cunha picked up an injury in the first-half. Since then, he has played just 15 minutes across five Premier League matches.
The brutal reality for Zirkzee is that he has dropped down the pecking order at a rapid rate. Ruben Amorim has two main tactics at present when it comes to his attack.
The first is the traditional triangle that he likes to utilise at the top of the pitch. Benjamin Sesko leads that three with two of Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Mason Mount behind him.
The other option is to play the striker-less system which worked expertly against Liverpool at Anfield. This sees Mbeumo and Mount partnering Cunha, who plays a free role up top. Few expected Sesko not to start on Sunday having bagged two goals in two games – with even Arne Slot caught out by the move – but it worked a treat.
Cunha was sensational in that role on Sunday. Sadly for Zirkzee, he just does not fit in that picture.
Zirkzee is now third-choice behind a striker-less system and that sums up how desperate the situation has become for him at the club.
There is no longer any justification for keeping Zirkzee beyond January and while he will always deserve credit for how he bounced back last season, now is the right time to move on.
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