Manchester United are comfortable with Joshua Zirkzee remaining at Old Trafford beyond Tuesday’s transfer deadline despite continued uncertainty over the forward’s future.
Zirkzee has attracted significant interest from Serie A during the closing stages of the window, with Fiorentina previously submitting an official proposal and Juventus continuing to explore a deal.
However, Samuel Luckhurst reports that United are comfortable with the possibility of keeping Zirkzee, citing both his usefulness as a squad player and his popularity within Michael Carrick‘s dressing room.
Man Utd under no pressure to sell Joshua Zirkzee
The latest stance is significant because United do not appear to view Zirkzee’s departure as essential deadline-day business.
The 25-year-old gives Carrick another central attacking option behind Benjamin Sesko and can also operate deeper as a No.10.
United’s official profile describes Zirkzee as comfortable playing in either role, giving Carrick a different option to the more traditional centre-forward profile offered by Sesko.
That makes keeping him entirely viable if United do not receive a proposal they consider worthwhile.
Sky Sports had already reported that United were increasingly likely to retain Zirkzee, with the club not under pressure to force another attacking departure.
It represents another shift in a transfer saga that has changed repeatedly during August.
ReadManUtd reported last week that Fiorentina had submitted a €5million loan proposal, but that route has since cooled.
Juventus interest keeps Zirkzee future open
Zirkzee cannot yet be described as certain to stay.
Reports in Italy and England continue to link Juventus with a deadline-day move, with The Times reporting that a season-long loan containing a potential future purchase is being discussed.
That means there remains time for his situation to change before the English transfer window closes at 11pm BST.
But United’s position changes the negotiating dynamic.
Carrick does not appear to need Zirkzee removed from the squad at any cost, and ReadManUtd has previously looked at how another striker signing would depend on the Dutchman leaving.
Unless Juventus or another club presents terms that satisfy United, keeping a popular and versatile squad player appears to be a perfectly acceptable outcome.
