Manchester United’s summer signing, Joshua Zirkzee, is facing increasing scrutiny from club executives, who are beginning to doubt his potential to succeed at Old Trafford. The 23-year-old striker, who joined from Bologna for £36.5 million, has only managed to score once in 17 appearances since his debut, raising concerns about his effectiveness in front of goal.
Manchester Evening News report how Zirkzee’s performance has been underwhelming, particularly as he was not included on the bench for the Netherlands during their recent Nations League match against Georgia, where fellow striker Wout Weghorst started instead. Although Zirkzee did feature as a No. 10 in a subsequent match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, he was substituted for Weghorst late in the game. This lack of impact has led senior figures at United to question whether he is the right fit for the team.
The club’s current goalscoring woes have compounded these doubts. Manchester United has scored just 12 goals in 12 Premier League matches this season, leaving them with a goal difference of zero after a recent defeat to Leicester City. Zirkzee has not found the net since his debut against Fulham over three months ago, while fellow forward Rasmus Hojlund has also struggled, netting only two goals in 12 games.
With the January transfer window approaching, United is expected to seek a reliable goalscorer. This might necessitate the departure of one of their current forwards. Hojlund, who was signed for an initial fee of £64 million, has also faced criticism for his lack of goals, having failed to score in his last 12 appearances for Denmark.
Zirkzee’s limited playing time is evident; he has featured in only two of United’s last nine matches and last started a league game during a heavy loss to Tottenham in late September. Former caretaker manager Ruud van Nistelrooy recently remarked on the team’s need for consistent goalscorers to compete effectively in both domestic and European competitions.
Currently, Alejandro Garnacho leads the team with seven goals this season, while several key players—including Marcus Rashford—have struggled to find the back of the net consistently. Under new head coach Ruben Amorim, there are indications that tactical changes may be on the horizon as he attempts to address these offensive issues.
As speculation mounts over Zirkzee’s future at Manchester United, reports suggest he may be considering a move away from the club. With Juventus reportedly interested in reuniting him with former coach Thiago Motta, it remains to be seen whether Zirkzee will continue his tenure at Old Trafford or seek opportunities elsewhere in January.
