A £42.5 million Manchester United striker’s departure in the January transfer window is becoming inevitable! Motivating himself with inspirational words, clubs from England and Italy are competing for him.

The chances of Manchester United striker Joshua Zirkzee departing in January’s winter transfer window are growing. BBC’s authoritative transfer specialist Simon Stone believes this might be the best decision for both sides.

Zirkzee remained at Manchester United during the summer but has struggled with a lack of game time and no chance to start matches, which is concerning for him with the World Cup approaching next year. Even worse, his situation is unlikely to improve soon, leading him to have a strong desire to seek a transfer mid-season.

Stone explained, “If you look at the playing time of every Manchester United player this season, Zirkzee and Cody Gakpo definitely feel they’re not getting enough minutes and are considering other options. Their problem is that in Amrabat’s team, there are too many players capable of playing the number 10 role.”

Amrabat favors Mason Mount, and the £62.5 million signing Mbemou along with the £71 million acquisition Cunha are prioritized players. Additionally, Amad Diallo, Bruno Fernandes, and Gakpo can all play that position, so even if Manchester United suffers a series of injuries, Amrabat is unlikely to choose Zirkzee as a starter.

At striker, there is only Sheshko, but it’s well known that Zirkzee’s scoring efficiency as a number 9 is very low; last season, his Premier League and overall goals were fewer than Hojlund’s.

Especially since Manchester United have fewer matches this season, Zirkzee has mostly been on the bench. Stone said, “Even with a reduced squad, I think Amrabat has too many experienced players under his command, especially since they have no European fixtures. The early exit from the League Cup was a further blow. So, if Zirkzee can leave in January, it might be the best solution for both sides.”

Last year, when Zirkzee joined Manchester United from Bologna for €62.5 million, he also faced difficulties initially but later proved himself with strong performances. Unfortunately, this time he probably won’t get many chances to prove himself. During this international break, Zirkzee was left out of the Netherlands squad, with coach Ronald Koeman bluntly stating, “He basically hasn’t played; to represent the Netherlands, he needs to have regular match rhythm.”

The 26-year-old Zirkzee can only encourage himself on social media with inspirational quotes: “Even in the darkest night, the flame of hope remains. Strength is born from hardship, and love can drive people forward.”

However, leaving Manchester United might be the ideal path. Zirkzee won’t lack suitors; his price is reasonable, his wages are not excessive, and he is still a well-regarded player. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Serie A’s Roma is interested in signing him in January. The Giallorossi want to loan Zirkzee to ensure he gets plenty of playing time before the World Cup.

In the Premier League, relegation-threatened West Ham United also show strong interest. The club has won only one of their first seven league matches, and new manager Nuno Espírito Santo has yet to secure a win. He hopes the club will support him with signings in the winter window. When managing Nottingham Forest, Espírito Santo successfully signed Elanga from Manchester United, and now he has his eyes on Zirkzee.

Former Manchester United and West Ham scout Mike Brown stated, “If Zirkzee leaves Manchester United in January, I believe many clubs would be willing to sign him. Clearly, the player himself is frustrated by the lack of opportunities this season, and if his playing time doesn’t increase, he may seek a transfer in January.”

Regarding Zirkzee’s potential next club, Brown said, “Because he had success in Serie A before joining Manchester United, Italian clubs like Juventus and Como have always been interested. West Ham also need a striker, as they have had ongoing issues in that position. With Antonio’s contract ending and departures, and neither Pukki nor Wilson securing the number 9 spot, if West Ham are still battling relegation in January, signing a new striker will be crucial for survival. Manchester United are reluctant to let Zirkzee go but may have no choice but to accept it.”