United have set strong conditions that suitors must meet if they are to sign underutilised star in January – report

It was surprising to see how Ruben Amorim reacted when Manchester United conceded twice within quick succession against Nottingham Forest last weekend. Instead of bringing on attacking players to try and restore parity, and possibly even go on to claim all three points, the head coach opted to tweak things at the back. As a result, no open play chances were created by the team, and it was ultimately a moment of genius from Amad that ensured the Red Devils left the City Ground with a point. It was not that the Portuguese tactician did not have attacking options on the bench. The likes of Mason Mount and Joshua Zirkzee were warming up by the touchline, but their number never came. Joshua Zirkzee continues to be overlooked The Dutchman’s current situation is puzzling. He is yet to start a single game in all competitions, and has accrued a grand total of 90 minutes of football. This has meant he has lost his place in the Netherlands national team, and with the World Cup coming up, the 24-year-old is desperate to make the trip to the USA next year. There are multiple suitors from within the Premier League and Serie A willing to take a chance on the ex-Bologna ace, but Teamtalk has now laid out the conditions that teams must adhere to if they want to sign the United No.11. In case of a permanent deal, teams must bid over €40 million. The 20-time English league champions would prefer a loan exit, as that would give them the best chance to earn a sizeable fee from his sale next summer. Strong conditions set by United “Manchester United are ready to let Joshua Zirkzee leave in January, but they do have strong conditions attached to any departure. “United have let it be known they are willing to sanction his exit, though the message is clear to his suitors: a permanent sale below €40m (£35m, $46m) will not be sanctioned, but a loan – with or without an option to buy – appears their preferred route, with the hope it could spark summer interest and lead to their asking price being met.” Amorim does not want to lose him, and United will need him when the likes of Amad, Bryan Mbeumo depart for AFCON later this year. Joshua Zirkzee is versatile, can play in multiple positions, and INEOS could certainly do with a player of his skillset in the seasons to come. Feature image Matt McNulty via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Ayantan Chowdhury After failing to become a professional footballer, Ayantan switched to the next best thing: writing about the greatest football club in the world. He has extensive sports journalism experience, having worked for over 10 years in the Indian sports media industry, writing for the biggest newspapers and websites. Currently an editor at The Peoples Person. You can follow him on X: @ayantanc_25