Any West Ham United fans tuning in to see Niclas Fullkrug’s potential replacement in action for Manchester United on Monday night won’t have been too impressed by Joshua Zirkzee’s performance.
And talk about a wasted opportunity. In every sense of the phrase.
Starting a Premier League match for the first time this season due to Benjamin Sesko’s injury, this felt like a chance Joshua Zirkzee could not afford to waste.
But thanks in part to some outstanding Jordan Pickford reactions – his remarkable reach late on surely saving him from another year of T-Rex-themed memes – West Ham United’s Crysencio Summerville is not the only forward without a goal in 12 months of top-flight football.
The West Ham fans made their feelings about Zirkzee clear last week. When asked who they would prefer to take Niclas Fullkrug’s place, presuming the German leaves in the New Year, England international Ivan Toney won the poll in a 70 per cent landslide.
One suspects, on the evidence of Man United’s 1-0 home defeat by a ten-man Everton on Monday night, the already small portion of supporters who selected Zirkzee may be hoping they can take back their vote and choose again.
According to Fabrizio Romano, West Ham ‘called’ Manchester United to gauge the potential of January deals for both Zirkzee and Kobbie Mainoo a month ago.
Now, another of the game’s most respected reporters – David Ornstein – has provided an update on the Red Devils duo with the transfer window only five weeks away.
Joshua Zirkzee and Kobbie Mainoo during Manchester United FC v Everton FC - Premier League
Photo by Joe Prior/Visionhaus via Getty Images
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David Ornstein suggests West Ham are more likely than Roma for Joshua Zirkzee
Speaking to NBC Sport, Ornstein reveals that progress between Manchester United and Mainoo, in terms of a new contract, remains few and far between.
Having previously claimed that West Ham have a ‘pretty remote chance’ of luring Zirkzee to the London Stadium, though, the doyen of transfer news now appears to be a little less pessimistic.
Ornstein also believes that reports of a return to Italy for the former Bologna and Parma forward are wide of the mark.
Who would you pick to replace Niclas Fullkrug at West Ham?
“First and foremost, there’s still a lot of time until the January window opens,” he said. “We cannot say anything with certainty. There’s no concrete news and nothing is set in stone.
“I think West Ham have shown an interest in Zirkzee. Reports say Roma too in Italy but, from what I hear, that’s not necessarily the case.
“There’s been no progress on a new contract for Kobbie Mainoo that expires in 2027. There’s an option to extend it by a year. United would need a replacement if he was to go.”
Ivan Toney and Zirkzee both hope to play at the 2026 World Cup
Zirkzee has now scored only three goals in 37 Premier League matches. It is not difficult to understand, with Fullkrug the latest in a long series of misfiring strikers to wear the claret and blue shirt, why some would have serious reservations about replacing the German with the Dutchman.
Ivan Toney, in contrast, may be as close to a ‘sure thing’ as it is possible to find.
Toney’s World Cup dreams may play into West Ham’s hands, as well. Having missed out on a place in Gareth Southgate’s squad back in 2022, the Al-Ahli frontman is facing a race against time if he is to be involved in Thomas Tuchel’s selection in 2026.
Should West Ham cut their losses on Niclas Fullkrug in January?
“I think it might make sense to make a change.
“Many would probably agree that Niclas is a classic penalty-area striker – strong in the air, physically powerful, able to shield the ball – basically made for the Premier League. [But] in retrospect, you have to say the transfer didn’t work. There’s no sugar-coating it.
“Time and again, just when you thought, ‘now he’s coming, now he’ll show England it wasn’t just a good Euro and then nothing afterwards’, another injury came. And that’s a shame.
“He’s had a bit of negative momentum and also some bad luck” – agent Thorsten Wirth
Speaking ahead of Man United’s fourth defeat in 12 Premier League matches – Ruben Amorim hoped the ‘storm’ had been dispelled but the dark clouds have returned with a vengeance now – the Red Devils boss accepted Zirkzee’s frustrations at Old Trafford.
Like Toney, the Bayern Munich graduate is likely to miss out on the World Cup without a January change.
“I was a football player,” Amorim said. “I understand everything, and I want to help my players in every situation. I understand the frustration of some players, seeing the World Cup is there. I know what it means.
“But the first thing is that the club comes first. If I can help the club and the players, I will be happy. If not I have to think about the team.”
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