Joshua Zirkzee makes Man United transfer feelings clear to Ruben Amorim after ‘lost soul’ claim
Joshua Zirkzee has been linked with a transfer away from Manchester United but wants to stay and fight for his place
Matty Hewitt Football Writer
18:40, 10 Dec 2025
Joshua Zirkzee and Ruben Amorim
Manchester United striker Joshua Zirkzee has reportedly made his intentions clear that he wishes to remain at Old Trafford and compete for his position, despite persistent speculation linking him with a move back to Serie A. The Netherlands international has netted only eight times in 58 outings for United since his transfer from Bologna during the summer of 2024.
Under Ruben Amorim, he has slipped down the hierarchy following the arrivals of Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo at the club. Zirkzee has been continually linked with a potential return to Italy, with AS Roma among the latest clubs reportedly interested in securing his services.
Nevertheless, Sky Sports News reports that Zirkzee is determined to remain at Old Trafford and battle for his spot, despite his limited playing opportunities this campaign. The 24-year-old has found the net just once in nine matches this season and has predominantly been confined to the substitutes’ bench.
Recent injuries to Sesko and Cunha, however, have provided Zirkzee with an opportunity to feature in Amorim’s first team. He started and scored in the dramatic victory at Crystal Palace, marking his first Premier League goal for United this term.
Following that triumph, former Premier League forward Troy Deeney suggested he could outperform Zirkzee, despite having been retired for two years. Speaking on talkSPORT, he said: “It’s really poor again from Zirkzee.
“I’ve been retired for two years – Man United give me six weeks and a third of what he’s doing and I’m probably sure I can do better.
“It is embarrassing watching him play at this moment in time. He just looks like a lost soul, an absolute lost soul.”
Joshua Zirkzee
However, that strike at Palace caught Deeney off guard and he said: “He’s got no right to score that. I’m questioning the ‘keeper, but it’s a wonderful finish. We’ve been giving him grief, and rightly so, but that’s a massive moment in his career.
“I’m flabbergasted that he’s done that. It’s not even the fact that he scored the goal, it’s the fact he’s shown you nothing in this game so far that you would even get a shot off.
“But to even have that level of self-assuredness to even take the shot. The confidence of it is frightening.”
The United manager was equally complimentary about how Zirkzee executed his goal against the Eagles. Amorim said: “It’s so important for the strikers to score goals. He’s not playing many minutes but the way he responds in the second-half is so important.
“It is more important than just the goals. Again, the small details, win the first ball so we can win the second ball, the connection, that is so important for our game. And the goal is really important for us and for him.”
Zirkzee featured from the start in the subsequent fixture against West Ham United before appearing as a substitute in the victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers. He remains tied to United until 2029, with the option for a further year.
