Joshua Zirkzee is set on leaving Manchester United in January after being left out of Ruben Amorim’s starting XI against Wolves on Monday night.
The Netherlands international has been one of the victims of United’s lighter fixture schedule this season, making just three appearances off the bench across the opening 11 games of the Premier League campaign.
That peripheral role left Zirkzee considering his future, desperate for first-team football with a place in Netherlands’ World Cup squad next summer in his sights. England’s Kobbie Mainoo faces a similar dilemma with the midfielder desperate to leave on loan next month.
Injuries to Benjamin Sesko and Matheus Cunha offered him a route back into the team, starting three games in a row against Everton, Crystal Palace and West Ham United. While rusty in the home defeat to Everton, the former Bologna star got on the score sheet with a fine finish away to Palace.
But with Cunha fit again on Monday night, Zirkzee lost his place in the starting XI, coming on for the final six minutes.
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Sesko is also thought to be nearing a return to fitness and is expected to have a role to play in the coming games.
While United will be down two attacking options in Amad Diallo and Bryan Mbeumo when they jet off for the Africa Cup of Nations, Zirkzee has reportedly reiterated his desire to leave Old Trafford.
Gazzetta dello Sport report his role on the bench at Molineux ‘definitively convinced’ the Dutchman to leave United this winter.
United and Roma have been in contact for a number of weeks but the Serie A side are now ready to step up negotiations led by Roma’s sporting director Frederic Massara.
Man Utd must convince Zirkzee to stay this season
There is no hiding the fact Joshua Zirkzee’s long-term future probably lies away from Old Trafford.
The forward has had flashes of brilliance in United red, serving as an impressive link between the attacking lines with his wonderful finish against Crystal Palace showing what he is capable of in front of goal.
But the Dutchman is unlikely ever to contribute the numbers needed to become a fixture in the team up front. In deeper roles, United have plenty of options that mean a bench role is likely the best he can hope for.
But there is little benefit in being hasty heading into January. With Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo away at AFCON, there will be opportunities.
Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko have already picked up knocks this term – Zirkzee is the only other option to lead the line with Chido Obi seemingly not in Ruben Amorim’s plans at the moment.
It would be a wholly selfish decision on United’s part – Zirkzee is in real danger of missing out on the Netherlands squad for next summer’s World Cup unless he starts playing every week. But for their own prospects this season, he will be of use.
Unless United are planning to bring in another forward option in January, any exit should be put on hold until the summer.
Tony Mogan, live sports editor
The Premier League side are ready to let Zirkzee leave on loan until the end of the season with an obligation to make the move permanent for €35million at the end of the season.
Roma are prepared to meet those demands on the condition the obligation to buy is triggered upon qualification for next season’s Champions League – a similar arrangement in place with Napoli and Rasmus Hojlund.
Roma are also keen to get a deal don as quickly as possible.
Napoli meanwhile are hoping to secure the services of Mainoo on loan. The England international has still not started a Premier League game all season and is desperate to get playing again to ensure he is in Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup plans.
This week, United legends Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt instructed Mainoo to leave Old Trafford – going as far as to urge him to join rivals Chelsea.
