Joshua Zirkzee given an escape route by Manchester United Boss Sir Jim Ratcliffe 

Joshua Zirkzee given an escape route by Manchester United Boss Sir Jim Ratcliffe

Joshua Zirkzee has struggled to impress since joining Manchester United in the summer, scoring just one goal in eight Premier League appearances

Joshua Zirkzee of Manchester United during the Premier League match between Manchester United FC and Brentford FC at Old Trafford on October 19, 2024

Joshua Zirkzee during Manchester United clash against Brentford

Juventus has been encouraged to sign Joshua Zirkzee ahead of the January transfer window. The 23-year-old striker, who joined Manchester United from Bologna for £36.5m in the summer, has struggled to impress since touching down at Old Trafford.

 

 

Zirkzee has featured eight times for the Red Devils in the Premier League this season, with his only goal coming in a 1-0 win against Fulham on the opening day of the season. The Netherlands international has failed to find the net since, raising questions over his ability.

 

During the international break, Pabio Di Canio suggested that Zirkzee should return to the Serie A, claiming that he’s ‘too slow’ for the English top-flight. Speaking to Italian publication Tuttosport, the West Ham legend said: “For the Premier League, he [Zirkzee] is a bit too slow.

 

“Maybe he will prove me wrong with goals and great performances, but there they attack you straightaway and [referees] whistle 30 per cent less for fouls [than Serie A]. In Italy, we have seen what impact the player had in Bologna.”

 

Di Canio added: “In the end, in the confusion that there is at United, they could also give him on loan. They already have [Rasmus] Hojlund, then there is [Marcus] Rashford who is playing in that position.

 

“He would be the perfect profile, because that would allow [Juventus head coach, Thiago] Motta to have a striker with different characteristics to [Dusan] Vlahovic. But I would start the negotiations now.

 

“A loan with maybe the possibility of signing him [permanently]. Zirkzee is not a devastating scorer. He’s not one to score 25 goals, but he makes others play.”

 

 

While many expected Zirkzee to solve United’s woes in front of goal, the Dutchman only managed 11 goals in the Serie A last season. Nevertheless, following Di Canio’s comments, a former Juventus chief has fuelled speculation regarding a potential move to Turin.

 

 

Speaking to Calciomercato, Luciano Moggi said: “The team is certainly lacking in attack. We need to make a virtue of necessity. Nico could also play as a striker, but we need a centre forward. A false nine? Zirkzee is one, he moves the ball around very well.”

 

Di Canio and Moggi are not the only big names in Italy to have doubted Zirkzee’s exit from the Serie A. Earlier this month, Ruud Guillit told La Gazzetta dello Sport exactly why the United ace should’ve joined AC Milan instead.

 

“Zirkzee would have done better to say yes to Milan instead of moving to Manchester United in England,” he said. “He knew Serie A and for his development, another couple of seasons in this tournament would have been very useful to him, but in a top club like Milan.

 

“Now instead, he is in a club that has many problems and that does not facilitate his growth. I hope he manages to reverse the trend after an inevitable period of settling in. He’s good, no doubt about that, but at United it’s hard to do well in such a tough moment.”