Man Utd forward Joshua Zirkzee has hardly played this season and is being linked with a move away from the club.
Steven Railston
Steven Railston
Zirkzee has played 82 minutes this season.(Image: 2025 Manchester United FC)
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Joshua Zirkzee had the potential to become a Manchester United cult hero after overcoming adversity.
Zirkzee dealt with the embarrassment of being hooked against Newcastle after 33 minutes last December and showed tremendous character in bouncing back over the subsequent weeks.
The Dutchman was an entertaining watch after being switched to one of the No.10 roles. Zirkzee was signed to play as a striker, but it was obvious that he did not possess the skillset to lead the United attack.
United fans rooted for Zirkzee to come good after the Newcastle substitution, although he was demoted in the squad this summer when Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha arrived.
Zirkzee has found opportunities hard to come by this term. Mbeumo and Cunha have been the first choice picks in the No.10 roles, while Mason Mount, Amad and Bruno Fernandes can also play there.
Ruben Amorim has not started Zirkzee once, even naming him on the bench against Grimsby Town in the Carabao Cup second round. United have fewer fixtures this term and Zirkzee's chances of playing have been damaged by the early Carabao Cup exit and the failure to qualify for European football.
He has recorded just 82 minutes across four appearances from the bench against Grimsby, Burnley, Manchester City and Brentford, but his current situation is not a surprise.
It was predictable that Zirkzee would slip down the pecking order and become a peripheral squad member, given United's summer signings and failure to qualify for Europe.
The extent of Zirkzee's demotion might be a tad surprising, though. He made positive contributions from the bench last season, but he's practically been forgotten about just months into the 2025/2026 campaign.
Manchester United centre-forward Joshua Zirkzee
Zirkzee has been linked with an exit from United.(Image: Manchester United via Getty Images)
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Zirkzee will be concerned about his lack of involvement and it's not a surprise that reports linking him with a move away from Old Trafford in the January transfer window.
The forward is aware that he must play to have a chance of making the Netherlands squad for the 2026 World Cup. Zirkzee has no chance of making Ronaldo Koeman's squad if he stays in Manchester.
West Ham have been linked with a move for the Dutchman, while a return to Italy to represent Roma has also been touted, and an offer from the latter would be more attractive to the player.
Zirkzee impressed during his time with Bologna in Serie A and only needs to look to his former teammate, Rasmus Hojlund, to decide why a return to Italy might be the best move for him.
Hojlund has enjoyed a new lease of life since joining Napoli on transfer deadline day, scoring four goals in six appearances.
The problem for Zirkzee is that although a move away in January makes perfect sense for him, does it make sense for United? He might not have started a game but he is seen as an important squad member.
United are a stroke of bad luck away from needing Zirkzee and Amorim will want to keep him for the remainder of the campaign, which could end his chances of playing at the World Cup.
There could be a standoff between both parties in January and it will be fascinating to see how it develops, as United pay Zirkzee's wages and ultimately have the power in discussions.
Zirkzee finds himself in a similar situation to Kobbie Mainoo, who is desperate to play at the World Cup for England next summer. Clubs must dread a World Cup season because players are more likely to rock the boat in an attempt to secure a move for the sake of regular minutes.
It's understandable that Zirkzee and Mainoo could request to leave for the sake of game time. Whether those requests will be entertained is another matter.
United must be sympathetic to their situations, while also prioritising the club's interests.