Manchester United are a little over two months away from the start of the January transfer window
Manchester United will not have been surprised to see reports that Joshua Zirkzee wants to leave the club in the January transfer window.
MEN Sport understands Zirkzee is anxious for more playing time ahead of the World Cup, and his concerns are justified. The Dutchman featured at Euro 2024 but has not been called up for the Netherlands since November last year.
For his club, Zirkzee has yet to start this season, and his cameo against Brighton did little to change that status. The 24-year-old lost his marker for the away side’s second of the game and was largely anonymous spearheading the attack.
It is clear the forward is not in Ruben Amorim’s plans at the club. However, there is a consensus that United would not be willing to let him leave in January.
The mid-season market is difficult for clubs wanting to sign replacements, and if Zirkzee were to leave, there is a theory that United would be short in cover. But there are three reasons which prove why the Reds should sanction the transfer.
Firstly, United have a player coming through their ranks who could slip into the role of cover immediately. Chido Obi has earned praise since making the move to Old Trafford from Arsenal and was a back-up last season for United.
This year, he has managed to continue his development in the academy and scored on Tuesday night in the young Reds’ win against Rochdale’s first-team. More exposure to the first-team environment at United will only be beneficial for the 17-year-old and it won’t necessarily affect his game time for the academy either.
And that is where the second reason comes in. Obi may not be called upon often thanks to the success of the strikerless system in recent weeks.
Against Liverpool, Matheus Cunha leading the line with Mason Mount and Bryan Mbeumo behind him, caused Arne Slot’s team multiple problems. If it had not been for Mount’s knock, we may have seen these three feature together against Brighton.
Clearly that system works and currently, this option is ahead of Zirkzee starting. The final reason in favour of sanctioning the transfer request would be to help Zirkzee.
This is a player who struggled tremendously in his first season and was unfairly targeted during a disappointing loss to Newcastle over Christmas 2024. To his credit, he knuckled down and his performances since that day improved.
Zirkzee is no longer part of the plans though and Amorim should do right by him and allow him to leave.
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2025-10-29 12:30:06
