Joshua Zirkzee’s start to life as a Manchester United player has been far from ideal with just three goals in 22 games.
Arriving as a player who was wanted widely across Europe, we were justifiably excited about the arrival of Joshua Zirkzee.
Costing above his release clause at £36m, Manchester United thought they had signed the perfect striker to rotate with and compliment Rasmus Hojlund.
Zirkzee’s record of three goals and two assists is dwarfed however by Hojlund’s seven goals and one assist, with five coming under Amorim.
On Thursday night, Hojlund settled the debate over who the first choice should be, as he bagged a clinical brace while breaking a record Wayne Rooney set.
Now, doubts over the Dutchman’s future have resurfaced.
Joshua Zirkzee of Manchester United in possession during the UEFA Europa League 2024/25 League Phase MD6 match between FC Viktoria Plzen and Manche...
Photo by MB Media/Getty Images
Juventus unlikely to move for Joshua Zirkzee in January
Zirkzee has far from endeared himself at Old Trafford. Zirkzee’s £36m arrival being a signing backed by data and Dan Ashworth.
Ashworth’s exit could open the door to Zirkzee’s exit, with Juventus so far looking his likeliest destination.
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But now, the Turin side’s managing football director Cristiano Giuntoli has spoken out on United’s No.11, and it leaves a deal looking unlikely.
“We are waiting for [Arkadiusz] Milik,” Giuntoli told Tutto Mercato when asked about striker signings. “Zirkzee is very good, but he is part of another team and I can’t say anything else. We’re thinking about something else.”
Despite this, Zirkzee could still exit with Napoli also registered with an interest.
Manchester United don’t need to replace Zirkzee
While the future of Zirkzee is far from decided, if Ineos do decide to part ways with the 23-year-old, then Jason Wilcox will believe the replacement is already at United.
Wilcox is the new leading man behind the scenes at Carrington. So given his expertise in youth, along with Amorim being spotted watching the U21s on Saturday – youth players look likely to get a big chance going forward.
It is little surprise either, considering the goal-scoring record of both Gabriele Biancheri with 17 goals this season and Chido Obi with six.
READ: Man Utd under-18s top scorers and assists in 2024/25, all results
These two, along with the already debuted Ethan Wheatley and young whizkid Louie Bradbury form a brilliant group of strikers for Amorim to call up.
So it would not be the end of the world.
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