Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has confirmed that he wants to keep struggling attacker Joshua Zirkzee at the club in the January transfer window.
The Dutchman was unsurprisingly dropped to the bench for Sunday's 2-2 Premier League draw with Liverpool after his nightmare cameo in Monday's 2-1 home defeat to Newcastle United.
Zirkzee's premature substitution in the 33rd minute of that game was cheered by a portion of the Old Trafford faithful, and he immediately headed down the tunnel after being hauled off for Kobbie Mainoo.
However, the former Bologna man - who joined in a £35.3m deal during the summer transfer window - was given a positive reception by the travelling Man United fans when he went to warm up at Anfield on Sunday.
Zirkzee subsequently made it onto the pitch for the final few moments and could have registered the assist for the match-winning goal, had Harry Maguire not blazed his effort over the bar with the goal at his mercy.
Amorim refuses to guarantee Zirkzee stay
© Imago
With only four goals and two assists to his name from his first 28 games in a Man United shirt, Zirkzee is already being heavily linked with a January departure, and a return to Serie A has been strongly mooted.
Juventus - managed by Zirkzee's former Bologna boss Thiago Motta - are said to be leading the chase to sign the ex-Bayern Munich man, who has allegedly seen his relationship with Amorim break down.
However, the Man United boss confirmed to reporters that he wanted Zirkzee to stay at the club in January, but he stopped short of guaranteeing that the striker would not be leaving.
"I want to keep Josh Zirkzee because he gives everything. He's trying in training but we don't know, the window is open... we will see what happens," Amorim told reporters, before also defending his call to pass to Maguire rather than go for goal himself in injury time.
"For me, I think it was the perfect decision because he can shoot but he put the ball more in the centre. The ball was really slow for Harry to score but sometimes you cannot do it. But Josh made a good decision in my opinion."
Why Man United are right to keep Zirkzee
© Imago
Outgoings rather than incomings will be the story of the January transfer window for Man United, who according to Amorim have no money to spend while they have not made a sale this month.
The Red Devils' display against Liverpool was a vast improvement on what we have seen in recent weeks, but it is now four Premier League games without a win, and Amorim surely cannot fathom making his squad weaker rather than stronger.
Zirkzee has disappointed in his first half-season at Man United - that much is clear - but he has shown glimpses of what he is capable of when the system plays to his strengths, evidenced by his brace in the 4-0 win over Everton several weeks back.
Furthermore, Zirkzee is one of just two options who could fill in for Rasmus Hojlund should the Dane pick up an injury, the other being Marcus Rashford, who already has one foot out of the door anyway.
While a loan exit might be better for Zirkzee personally, Man United would do well to keep hold of him before re-assessing the situation in the summer if his situation shows no sign of improving.
Ben Knapton
