Manchester United could reportedly make a move for Amad Diallo’s Ivory Coast teammate and bring him to Old Trafford in a swap deal involving Joshua Zirkzee.

Amad Diallo is away from the Premier League after the 23-year-old Ivorian winger was called up by the Ivory Coast for the 2025 AFCON tournament in December.

The real reason why Ruben Amorim subbed off Man Utd striker Joshua Zirkzee against Wolves… 🤔👀

Did Ruben Amorim make a major mistake taking Joshua Zirkzee off? 😩 Should Benjamin Sesko come off instead of Zirkzee? Let us know YOUR verdict! ✍️

Joshua Zirkzee in action during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Wolves at Old Trafford in 2025 in Manchester, England.Credit: Neal Simpson/Sportsphoto/Allstar/Getty Images

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The Ivory Coast international’s absence has been a big blow for Ruben Amorim, who has been a big admirer of Amad since the Manchester United manager’s arrival in 2024.

Amad has missed United’s last three Premier League matches and the Red Devils wing-back is not expected to return to Old Trafford until later this month.

Ruben Amorim’s United first-team squad options have been limited in recent weeks due to players going to the Africa Cup of Nations and being out with injuries.

READ MORE: Gary Neville’s powerful Eric Cantona point still shows Ruben Amorim missed effective ‘trick’ with Man Utd star

Benjamin Sesko walks behind Joshua Zirkzee during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Wolves at Old Trafford in 2025 in Manchester, England.Photo by Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty ImagesRoma’s transfer interest in Joshua Zirkzee could open up a potential Man Utd swap deal option

Joshua Zirkzee has been linked with Roma heavily in recent weeks and the 24-year-old Dutch forward has been tipped to leave Old Trafford in the January window.

The Manchester United striker has received more first-team opportunities under Ruben Amorim in recent months due to the lack of squad depth at the club.

Sport Witness picked up a report from ASRomaLive that ‘suggested’ that United could now ‘ask’ Roma for a potential swap deal for wantaway striker Zirkzee.

Manchester United must KEEP Joshua Zirkzee in January

Joshua Zirkzee celebrates scoring for Manchester United.Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP via Getty Images

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According to reports from Italy, United are considering the option of bringing Roma and Ivory Coast defender Evan Ndicka to Old Trafford as part of Zirkzee’s move.

Roma are believed to be ‘working on an initial loan deal’ for Zirkzee and the transfer would include a ‘conditional obligation’ to buy the Netherlands international.

The Serie A club would ‘obviously pay the loan fee’ for a January transfer for the United striker, but the Red Devils’ interest in Evan Ndicka could change plans.

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Man Utd’s option with Amad Diallo’s Ivory Coast teammate Evan Ndicka amid Roma’s transfer pursuit of Joshua Zirkzee

According to Sport Witness, United could ‘float the idea’ of Roma allowing Evan Ndicka to arrive at Old Trafford in the summer instead of paying a fee for Zirkzee.

Ndicka, who is away at AFCON 2025 alongside Ivory Coast teammate Amad Diallo, is under contract with the Italian club until 2028 and has been at Roma since 2023.

The 26-year-old French-born centre-back first arrived at Roma after he left German outfit Eintracht Frankfurt on a free transfer.

Ndicka has made 106 appearances for Roma and is viewed as a player who could make the Serie A club ‘big capital’ if they sold ‘him between 2026 and 2027.’

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