Manchester United forward Joshua Zirkzee
Manchester United forward Joshua Zirkzee
Manchester United’s Joshua Zirkzee will look for a move away from the Premier League side in the summer.
The forward hasn’t regularly enjoyed a good run since joining the Red Devils from Bologna for €42.5m in July 2024.
He scored nine goals and contributed four assists from 69 matches, of which two goals and an assist are from this season.
His game time at Manchester United has been reduced and he’s made four league starts this season. In his final season at the Serie A side, Zirkzee managed 11 goals and four assists.
Below are stats from per game from this season [first] and his final season at Bologna
Expected Goals per season: 2.39 – 9.01
Expected Assists per season: 0.33 – 2.54
Shots on target: 0.4 – 0.9
Big chances created: 2 – 11
The difference for a drop in form when compared to his performances in Italy is minutes. He averaged 82 minutes per game [in Serie A] in his final season at Bologna and it dropped to 31 minutes this season.
Joshua Zirkzee aiming for Manchester United exit
In the winter market, Sport Witness regularly covered claims of AS Roma’s interest. A deal, however, never went through.
TuttoMercatoWeb insist the Netherlands international isn’t happy that he didn’t leave the English club.
He had an agreement in place with Roma and the 24-year-old continuing with the English club hasn’t worked out.
In January, the Old Trafford club parted ways with Ruben Amorim and appointed Michael Carrick as manager until the end of this season.
His arrival immediately improved Kobbie Mainoo’s situation but not Zirkzee’s. To put it in context, the Dutchman has played 28 minutes from four matches under Carrick so far.
The player will ‘try to remedy’ the mistake made in January, by ‘saying goodbye’ to Manchester United in the summer.
The Premier League side still have €25m of the €42.5m to be amortised. TMW claim the figure is a ‘great price’ and affordable for some Italian clubs to bring him back to Serie A.
Dutchman’s contract, value and agent info
He has a contract until 2029, with an option for another year, and Transfermarkt value him at €22m.
The attacker is represented by Sports Invest UK Ltd, headed by Kia Joorabchian. He has to find a suitable new club if Zirkzee is to leave Old Trafford. However, that may not be easy for €25m.
Last month, Sport Witness covered claims from Italy of Juventus’ interest and that €30m would be enough to sign him in the summer.
Taking his value, contract and age into account, Manchester United are unlikely to sell him for €25m. The interested parties may have to offer more to take Joshua Zirkzee away from Old Trafford.