Joshua Zirkzee
Joshua Zirkzee is wanted by Inter Milan
Manchester United are heading into the summer transfer window with only a handful of players unattainable. Ruben Amorim has had six months to analyse the playing squad and the obvious has become clearer: work needs to be done.
Despite few positive signs of improvement, United have stagnated under Amorim. A shocking Premier League is only being saved by the players' unbeaten Europa League campaign, with a final against Tottenham coming next week.
The Manchester Evening News understands that United are keen to sign four key signings this summer with a focus on prioritising the attack. Key targets Matheus Cunha and Liam Delap, who have release clauses, have both strongly been linked with a move to Old Trafford but it would be naïve to only sign them.
A new midfielder is also a consideration with Christian Eriksen's contract expiring. Kobbie Mainoo's contract stand off with the club has placed doubts over his future and what United do with Casemiro continues to be unclear.
Despite the atrocious results and performances throughout the season, there are some players who have an argument to stay at the club. Alongside the obvious like Bruno Fernandes, Amad, Matthijs de Ligt and maybe Leny Yoro, the majority of United's squad haven't covered themselves in glory.
Joshua Zirkzee's situation is a different one. After arriving from Bologna in the summer for £36.5million, the Netherlands international has done performed decently if nothing more, scoring seven goals and providing another three assists. Whilst he hasn't set the world alight, his presence is missed in United's team currently with a hamstring injury keeping him out.
After paying a significant fee for him last year, United aren't expected to readily sanction an early exit for the 23-year-old, but according to reports in Italy, Inter Milan are targeting a move for him in the summer.
Corriere dello Sport have claimed that the Champions League finalists want to bring Zirkzee back to the San Siro to compete with first choice strikers Lautaro Martinez and Marcus Thuram. It's said a loan deal with an option to buy is their preference with the forward's wages not an obstacle they are concerned about.
United's stance on Zirkzee is likely to sway more towards keeping him after his signs of potential. However, just like there was in January with a reported swap deal proposed for Zirkzee to join Juventus and Dusan Vlahovic move to United, there could be a wildcard option to structure the move in a more palatable way.
Inter have enjoyed a fantastic season, mainly down to Simon Inzaghi's tactics, but individual player performances have played a key part. Yann Sommer has been one of Europe's top goalkeepers, Alessandro Bastoni has been a rock at the back, Nicolo Barella has controlled things in midfield and Martinez has continued to score goals for fun.
Man United have been linked with Inter Milan defender Yann Bisseck (Image: Getty Images)
There's talent within the Inter squad and United could look at a number of their players in order to sanction Zirkzee's exit. Defender Yann Bisseck has recently been linked with a move to Old Trafford to bolster Amorim's backline whilst Denzel Dumfries has already been primed to join United by Gary Neville recently.
Both Bisseck and Dumfries improve United's team and would strengthen the defence for next season. Whilst United may not be entirely inclined to allow Zirkzee to leave, letting him go as part of a deal to bring one of Inter's colossal defenders to the club would be too hard to turn down.
It remains to be seen whether or not Inter would even consider selling either Bisseck or Dumfries. However, there is scope for some sort of deal with United's past interest and Inter registering interest in Zirkzee.