Manchester United striker Joshua Zirkzee has supposedly been offered the chance to continue in the Premier League with Aston Villa should he depart the Red Devils next year.
Old Trafford chiefs are said to harbour serious concerns about the former Bayern Munich protege, who has failed to live up to expectations since his £35.3m arrival from Bologna in the summer.
Zirkzee made the perfect start to life in Manchester, netting the winner in the Red Devils' 1-0 victory over Fulham on the first matchday of the 2024-25 Premier League season, but he has now gone 16 games without finding the back of the net.
The 23-year-old has also mustered just two assists during that dry spell and has not started a Premier League game since September, being restricted to five substitute appearances over the past several weeks.
Zirkzee remains under contract at the Theatre of Dreams until 2029 with the option of a further year, but according to CaughtOffside, he will not be given the chance to resurrect his career under Ruben Amorim.
Amorim 'actively working' to secure transfer for Zirkzee
© Imago
Man United's new head coach is allegedly already working to find Zirkzee a new employer in the New Year, and Aston Villa have expressed an interest in signing the misfiring Dutchman in January.
The Lions already boast two Premier League-proven strikers in Ollie Watkins and Jhon Duran, although Zirkzee could play just off one of the two centre-forwards as opposed to being used as the focal point of their attack.
Whether Man United are willing to sanction a permanent exit or a straight loan deal remains to be seen, but the report claims that the Lions have 'thrown their hat into the ring' regardless.
However, Zirkzee's preference is said to be a return to Serie A, and Juventus - whose current boss Thiago Motta oversaw the striker's terrific 2023-24 season with Bologna - are at the head of the queue.
Inter Milan, Napoli and AC Milan are also keen to lure Zirkzee back to the top flight of Italian football, though, while Amorim's former side Sporting Lisbon could also try their luck if the conditions are right.
Could there still be a lifeline for Zirkzee at Man United?
© Imago
A player who does not truly fit the centre-forward role in the Premier League, Zirkzee is seemingly better suited to a deeper attacking position, but Bruno Fernandes has been the undisputed first choice in the number 10 slot.
However, there will be room for two playmakers in Amorim's 3-4-3 system, where the wing-backs are expected to provide the width as the two men just off the striker operate as inside forwards.
It would be intriguing to see how Zirkzee performed in such a position, but one of those two slots will no doubt be occupied by Fernandes, and the former would have to fend off some intense competition for the second place.
Alejandro Garnacho, Marcus Rashford and Amad Diallo are all options for Amorim, who has also talked up the injury-hit Mason Mount and has reportedly made the ex-Chelsea man central to his plans going forward.
Therefore, a six-month spell back in Serie A may be just what the doctor ordered for Zirkzee, who is unlikely to be given ample opportunities to reignite his faltering Old Trafford career in the first half of 2025.
Ben Knapton
