At a Glance
- Manchester United set Zirkzee price tag
- Dutch attacker has struggled at Old Trafford
- Premier League club keen
Manchester United are reportedly willing to take a significant financial hit to sanction Joshua Zirkzee’s departure. A lack of first-team opportunities could lead to a summer sale.
According to TuttoMercatoWeb (TMW), United are willing to offload the Dutchman at a reduced price of around £21.6 million. He joined the Red Devils in 2024 in a deal worth £36.5million from Serie A side Bologna.
Zirkzee was a key factor in the Italian club securing Champions League football in 2023/24. It was the main reason United paid above the release clause, set at £33.6m.
Interest grows
West Ham United are said to be keeping tabs on the forward for a summer move. The Hammers signed striker Pablo Felipe in January, ensuring that adding firepower to their frontline will help them retain their Premier League status.
They would only be a viable option for Zirkzee if they avoid relegation to the Championship. Currently sitting in 18th place, The Irons would not be the only club interested in the former Bayern Munich player.
In January, Juventus and AS Roma were interested in bringing Zirkzee back to familiar ground in Serie A. However, nothing materialised after Ruben Amorim was sacked and major transfer dealings were put on pause until the summer.
Zirkee’s struggles in English football
Ultimately, Zirkzee has failed to replicate the same form he showed in Italy. He is a versatile forward, capable of leading the line and playing on the wing. His physical frame at 6’4″ and hold-up play are two of his best traits. However, the pace and intensity of English football has shot him down the pecking order at Old Trafford this season.
Rasmus Hojlund’s departure in the summer posed an opportunity for him to get more playing time. Instead, United opted to sign Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig as a replacement.
| Joshua Zirkzee (Premier League 2025-26) | Statistic |
| Appearances | 18 |
| Starts | 4 |
| Minutes Played | 510 |
| Goals | 2 |
| Assists | 1 |
| Expected Goals (xG) | 2.39 |
| Expected Assists (xA) | 0.33 |
| Pass Completion % | 75.4% |
| Yellow Cards | 1 |
| Red Cards | 0 |
Whether under Ruben Amorim or Michael Carrick, the 24-year-old has failed to win the head coach’s faith. His return of 2 goals and 1 assist in 18 Premier League appearances this season paints a picture of his struggles. The forward has only started 4 of those league games. Under Carrick, he is the third-choice striker behind Bryan Mbuemo and Sesko.
Another forward off the wage bill
Zirkzee is thought to earn around £105,000 per week and is contracted until the summer of 2029. It puts United in a comfortable negotiating position should clubs become interested.
His exit could come alongside attackers Jason Sancho, Rasmus Hojlund and Marcus Rashford. They are all out on loan.
Hojlund and Rashford are expected to make permanent moves to Napoli and Barcelona, respectively. Sancho will be leaving when his contract expires.
A £14.9million loss on a single transfer is significant damage to a club that are looking to cut costs where possible. However, securing Champions League football is expected to significantly increase revenue. Losing players on massive wages like Rashford, Sancho and Casemiro is an added bonus. Perhaps INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe won’t feel too hard done by letting Zirkzee go in the context
