It appears as if Joshua Zirkzee may be edging ever closer to departing Manchester United as his struggles at the club persist.
Earlier this week, The Peoples Person relayed that Juventus are planning to sign Zirkzee in the summer transfer window.
Zirkzee himself also seems open to the move, with reports claiming that the Dutch forward is open to joining Juventus as life at Old Trafford becomes “unbearable” for him.
Still, what these reports had not yet taken into account is how Zirkzee would be viewed by Ruben Amorim now that he is the United manager.
Tuttosport were quick to acknowledge this fact, going so far as to claim that United’s match against Ipswich Town this evening would play a role in determining Zirkzee’s future.
“The Dutch striker has gradually slipped to the bottom of the team’s offensive hierarchy, to the point that his last appearance on the pitch as a starter in the league dates back to September,” the Italian newspaper noted.
“But Ten Hag, in the meantime, has been sacked, and the Portuguese coach has just taken over,” the article continued. Referring to the Ipswich game, the newspaper declared that the match would “begin to tell us something about the consideration that Zirkzee enjoys with the former Sporting boss.”
Unfortunately, this evening’s 1-1 draw was not a promising sign for Zirkzee. The forward started on the bench, only coming on late in the second half and making little impact during his cameo.
If tonight’s match can be read into, it appears as if Zirkzee has not quite earned the confidence of Amorim to break into the starting 11. What’s more, both he and fellow striker Rasmus Hojlund were snubbed for the striker role for Marcus Rashford, suggesting that Amorim doesn’t quite view Zirkzee as the starting striker that United needs, at least at this stage.
While Amorim’s opinion remains a mystery, it was reported that several senior figures at the club do not believe that Zirkzee is performing at the required level, especially after having months to adapt to life at Old Trafford.
The lack of faith in Zirkzee’s abilities also comes amid numerous transfer links, including a potential swap deal involving Douglas Luiz.
Ultimately, when looking at Amorim’s favoured 3-4-3 lineup and the squad at his disposal, it appears as if he has little need for Zirkzee’s services. While he may be a new arrival, United might need to cut their losses and part ways with the forward, who seems to be yet another new signing who simply doesn’t seem to be suited to life in the Premier League.
Featured image Burak Kara via Getty Images
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Mathew Cohen
A faithful Manchester United supporter, Mathew has worked as a football writer and analyst for SB Nation, FanSided, and now The Peoples Person. Mathew’s heroes include David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Sir Alex Ferguson, all of whom played their part in creating some special childhood memories.
