Man Utd star makes U-turn over transfer exit ahead of January deadline

Manchester United striker Joshua Zirkzee is now happy to remain at Old Trafford for the rest of the season after being linked with a January exit, according to reports.

Zirkzee was one of several players who grew frustrated with their lack of minutes under Ruben Amorim in the first half of the season.

The Dutch forward did not start any of United’s first 11 league matches of the season, with the arrivals of Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha and Bryann Mbeumo seeing him fall down the pecking order.

Reports earlier in January speculated that Zirkzee could be looking for a new club in a bid to get more regular minutes and aid his effort to make the Dutch squad for the World Cup.

It was also claimed that the Dutchman had said yes to a move to Roma after encouraging talks with Giallorossi head coach Gian Piero Gasperini.

However, with Mbeumo and Amad both away at the AFCON, United temporarily pulled the plug on Zirkzee’s departure.

And The Sun reports that the 24-year-old has now expressed a desire to remain with the Red Devils beyond the January transfer deadline and see out the rest of the season at Old Trafford.

The report adds that Zirkzee’s future could be reassessed at the end of the season, when he could be sold to raise funds for an out-and-out striker.

Zirkzee has been unavailable for Michael Carrick’s first two matches as interim head coach due to injury but is fit once again for the visit of Fulham on Sunday.

‘I think Josh has just been trying to work to get fit and get back around the group and it’s been great to have him back training yesterday with a group for the first time,’ Carrick said when asked about the forward on Friday.

‘That’s literally as far as it goes for me and for Josh. I’m looking forward to working with him. That’s it. Nothing else needs to be said.’

Zirkzee will surely hope that a change in the United dugout can breathe life into his fortunes at the club.

But the versatile attacker could find it hard to force his way into the starting lineup, particularly with Carrick opting to start Bryan Mbeumo as his central striker and bring Benjamin Sesko off the bench.

Speaking earlier in the month, Dutch footballng legend Ruud Gullit urged Zirkzee to force his way out of Old Trafford as soon as possible.

‘For me, there was always a doubt that it was the right decision to go to Manchester United,’ Gullit told Metro via FootItalia.

‘I think he should have stayed in Serie A. He was doing well with Bologna and I think he should have gone to a better team in Italy.

‘For him it would have been much better. Manchester United have to figure out what that vibe is there, because something is wrong there. The energy is not good, it doesn’t feel good at all.’

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