January 6, 2025: Ruben Amorim, the head coach of Manchester United, has acknowledged the possibility that Dutch striker Joshua Zirkzee may leave the club during the January transfer window, as reported by Sky Sports.
Zirkzee, who was signed by Amorim’s predecessor, Erik ten Hag, in the summer transfer window for a substantial £36.5 million from Bologna, has had a challenging time settling into his new role at Old Trafford. Despite a promising debut, where he scored a stunning goal against Fulham, his form has waned over the past six months.
In 20 Premier League appearances, the 23-year-old striker has managed just three goal contributions—three goals and one assist. Amorim, however, expressed his desire to keep the young forward at the club, stating, “I want to keep Josh because he gives everything. He’s trying in training, but we don’t know, the window is open. We will see what happens. We just need to focus on training and take this for the next game.”
Amorim’s comments reflect the uncertainty surrounding Zirkzee’s future, as he emphasizes the importance of focusing on performance and results rather than speculation about the transfer window.
Meanwhile, Bruno Fernandes, Manchester United’s club captain, voiced his strong support for Zirkzee. Speaking about the forward’s dedication, Fernandes expressed frustration at the criticism Zirkzee has received. He said, “I was in the stands [against Newcastle] and have never seen something like this, and it really frustrates me and annoys me because he is a player that always gives his all.”
Zirkzee’s last appearance for Manchester United came as a substitute during their recent clash against Liverpool. The match ended in a dramatic 2-2 draw, with Lisandro Martínez and Amad Diallo scoring for United after Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo had given Liverpool the lead. Zirkzee was not involved in the scoring, and Harry Maguire missed a crucial opportunity to secure the win.
With this point, Manchester United are currently in 13th place in the Premier League with 23 points, and they will next face Southampton at home. The outcome of Zirkzee’s future may depend on his performances in the coming weeks, especially with January on the horizon.
