Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Premier League side West Ham have shown a clear interest in two Manchester United players whose World Cup ambitions hang in the balance.
The 2026 January transfer window is only months away from opening and it remains unclear if Manchester United will actively try to bring in new players to the club.
mail iconJoin our newsletter for news & smart analysis.
Ruben Amorim could be left short of options in the short term, with the 2025 edition of the Africa Cup of Nations anticipated to start in December and run until January.
United will likely lose star performer Bryan Mbeumo to the tournament, while Noussair Mazraoui and Amad Diallo could be called up for international duty.
However, the January transfer window could also offer a route out of Old Trafford for players who are struggling for United first-team minutes under Ruben Amorim.
READ MORE: ‘Brilliant’… Paul Scholes thinks Bruno Fernandes’ Portugal teammate is out of this world, Ian Wright instantly reacts
Journalist Fabrizio Romano attends the Serie A football match between Inter Milan and Lazio.
Photo by Nicolò Campo/LightRocket via Getty Images
Fabrizio Romano confirms West Ham’s current position on Man Utd duo Kobbie Mainoo and Joshua Zirkzee
Joshua Zirkzee has been linked with a Manchester United exit in the January transfer window after falling down the pecking order at the Premier League club.
More United News
The 24-year-old Dutch forward disappointed in his debut season at Old Trafford in the 2024-25 campaign and has seen his playing time significantly reduced.
Kobbie Mainoo, much like United striker Joshua Zirkzee, has been struggling to secure a place in the Red Devils starting XI in the 2025-26 Premier League season.
The 20-year-old United midfielder’s role has now waned after United manager Ruben Amorim has been deploying Bruno Fernandes in a deeper midfield role.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Fabrizio Romano has said that West Ham are exploring potential loan moves for Zirkzee and Kobbie Mainoo in January.
“There is also interest from West Ham,” he said.
“West Ham have called to understand the situation of both Joshua Zirkzee and Kobbie Mainoo on loan, of course, for six months to give them the opportunity to play [and] to give them the chance maybe to go to the World Cup.”
READ MORE: Sir Alex Ferguson labelled one Man Utd fan favourite ‘heart and soul’ of club, Ruben Amorim cannot afford repeat
Fabrizio Romano on Man Utd’s stance amid Kobbie Mainoo and Joshua Zirkzee’s World Cup ambitions
Both Kobbie Mainoo and Joshua Zirkzee face real challenges of trying to climb back into the fold with the England and Netherlands national teams respectively.
The lack of playing time for Zirkzee and Mainoo at club level could see the United duo fail to make the World Cup squads for the 2026 tournament in North America.
Netherlands striker Zirkzee has been linked with several clubs in Europe, while England midfielder Mainoo has attracted transfer interest in recent months.
Despite the rumblings around the two United players, Romano has explained that United have not started any talks that would see the exits of Zirkzee or Mainoo.
“But at the moment for Man United, they are not open to any negotiation,” he continued.
“So, that’s the status of the story. Nothing else is evolving about this.”
Zirkzee has made five appearances across all competitions for United this season and Mainoo has featured eight times for the Red Devils in the 2025-26 campaign.