Manchester United are enjoying something of a rebirth under Michael Carrick. The former midfielder has been put in charge until the end of the season and couldn’t have started any better.
Victories over Manchester City and Arsenal have pushed the Red Devils into the top four. There’s a mixture of joy around that and also a feeling of what may have been if earlier season results had been better.
Multiple players have found new energy under Carrick, and that should be beneficial for the coming months. One man who hasn’t played a part at all is Joshua Zirkzee. The Dutchman hasn’t made an appearance since Manchester United’s FA Cup defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion.
Zirkzee is carrying an injury which is largely undefined, although he’s expected to return in February. Many didn’t expect the 24-year-old to even be at Old Trafford after January.
AS Roma had been leading a charge to sign him, with various claims about agreed personal terms and how a transfer would be structured. At one point it appeared consensus was growing around a loan with a conditional purchase obligation based in Champions League qualification.
Why the transfer is unlikely and why Zirkzee was interested
Joshua Zirkzee Manchester United
Bucharest, Romania – January 30, 2025: Joshua Zirkzee, Manchester United striker, at National Arena for Uefa Europa League match, last game of group stage with FCSB.
Manchester United then parted ways with Ruben Amorim and everything changed. The Roma line went quiet and then the Serie A club secured other targets.
There’s still interest, but the Premier League club don’t want a simple loan. They’ve made that clear repeatedly, however, it appears Roma have had another try.
Tuesday’s edition of Corriere dello Sport reports Manchester United are ‘unconvinced’ about loaning Zirkzee out only to welcome him back in the summer. There’s clearly a feeling of what’s the point at Old Trafford.
Zirkzee had been interested in a move partly to try and impress Ronald Koeman ahead of the World Cup. The Netherlands manager isn’t a big fan, so that in itself was a long shot.