Manchester United winger Jadon Sancho was eyed up by a number of European clubs over the summer before ultimately completing a deadline day loan move to Aston Villa
Joshua Zirkzee at Nottingham Forest vs Manchester United
Joshua Zirkzee has a new potential transfer destination(Image: Manchester United via Getty Imag)
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Manchester United have a new potential buyer for Joshua Zirkzee, it has been claimed. The Dutch international has been linked with Sevilla and West Ham United, but AS Roma have now entered the mix.
It isn't the first time Roma have found themselves in contention to hand an Old Trafford escape route to an out-of-favour United star. Jadon Sancho was a target for the Serie A outfit over the summer, only for wage demands to reportedly put paid to the deal, with Sancho eventually joining Aston Villa on loan.
According to Sky Sport Switzerland, though, Zirkzee has indicated a willingness to take a pay cut if it allows him to move to the Stadio Olimpico. The same publication also lists AC Milan as a possible destination.
Zirkzee moved to Old Trafford after impressing for Bologna and helping the club qualify for the Champions League under Thiago Motta in 2024. A reunion with Motta at Juventus had been mooted, only for the manager to lose his job in Turin in March.
Roma and Milan are both in the Champions League spots in Serie A after 10 matches, but both could do with a little more firepower. Roma have scored just 10 times in the league, while Milan striker Santi Gimenez missed his team's weekend victory over Roma through injury.
Zirkzee has played just 82 league minutes this season, with the addition of Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko limiting his involvement. The bulk of that game time came as a first-half substitute for the injured Cunha during a victory over Burnley in August.
He was an unused substitute on Saturday, even as United chased an equaliser against Nottingham Forest. Defenders Patrick Dorgu and Noussair Mazraoui were introduced in Amorim's only changes of the afternoon, with a volley from Amad rescuing a late point.
Jadon Sancho in action for Aston Villa
Jadon Sancho was also linked with Roma before moving to Aston Villa
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A January move appears to represent Zirkzee's best chance of making the Netherlands squad for the 2026 World Cup - if the Oranje get the results they need in November to make sure of their place. He was part of the Euro 2024 squad and played four UEFA Nations League matches in 2024 but has not featured for his national team since starting against Bosnia and Herzegovina nearly a full year ago.
"They want to play," United boss Amorim told reporters earlier this season when discussing Zirkzee and Napoli target Kobbie Mainoo."Like you said, there’s a World Cup.
"There are agents that listen to the players talking all the time. So, I understand that but they are our players, and we need everyone to have a good season."
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