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Ruben Amorim ‘plots Man United raid’ after player refuses to blame Michael Carrick

Ruben Amorim is reportedly keen on a reunion with one of his former Man United players

AC Milan coach Ruben Amorim during the UEFA Europa League 2026/27 League Phase MD1 match between AC Milan and SL Benfica

Ruben Amorim is said to be looking towards Manchester United ahead of the January transfer window.(Image: Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

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Former Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim is reportedly eyeing a reunion with striker Joshua Zirkzee ahead of the January transfer window. The two worked together at Old Trafford before Amorim was sacked in January.

After a few months out of management, the manager returned in the summer, becoming the head coach of Italian giants AC Milan. The team currently sit fifth in the Serie A table after the first five games, and it seems eyes are already turning to the winter window.

Calciomercato reports that Milan have ‘set their sights’ on Zirkzee. It’s reported that they are hoping to agree a loan deal with an option to buy with United.

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The report also adds that the striker was ‘very close’ to completing a move to the club before he moved to Old Trafford in the summer of 2024. Zirkzee cost United £36.5 million when moving from Serie A side Bologna just over two years ago.

The move has not gone as many would have hoped, with the Dutchman struggling to nail down a regular place in the starting lineup.

He was heavily linked with a move away in the summer window, with Italian sides Juventus and Fiorentina said to have held talks, but no move materialised, and he remained with United.

Zirkzee has made four appearances in all competitions so far this season, with all of those coming as a second-half substitute. Despite the minimal minutes, He was a surprise call-up to the Netherlands national team after injury to Brian Bobbley.

Joshua Zirkzee during the Premier League 2026/27 match between Fulham and Manchester United at Craven Cottage.

Joshua Zirkzee is yet to start a game for Man United so far this season. (Image: Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images)

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The reports about his future come just a matter of hours after Zirkzee refused to blame United boss Michael Carrick for the situation he is in. Buthe did express surprise at the call-up to the Dutch side, due to his lack of game time.

"At the moment, that means I am mainly coming on as a substitute,” Zirkzee said about his role at United. “And in the end, I have to do something about that myself, even if it isn't easy. Even so, it was still quite a big surprise that the coach called me up.”

He added: "I absolutely did not expect a call-up. I'm obviously not a starter, so it did give me a good feeling that the coach had confidence in me to call me up. But absolutely not expected, no."

Following his call-up, the striker earned his first international cap in nearly two years. He was also on the scoresheet in the Netherlands' 2-1 win over Serbia over the weekend.

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