Joshua Zirkzee is inching towards the exit door at Manchester United which means Ineos need to source a replacement.
With the 2026 World Cup on the horizon, Joshua Zirkzee is open to leaving Manchester United in pursuit of more game time.
United are confident that Zirkzee would sell for £36m to recoup the transfer fee spent bringing him to Old Trafford in 2024.
The knee injury suffered by Benjamin Sesko has thrown a spanner in the works because United could block Zirkzee from leaving to maintain squad depth.
In the long term, it’s difficult to see how Joshua Zirkzee fits into Amorim’s plans. A 2026 exit is on the cards, meaning United will need a new striker sooner rather than later.
Joshua Zirkzee exit should lead to Dusan Vlahovic
In the summer, United were offered Dusan Vlahovic, but talks were already ongoing for Sesko at the time.
Dusan Vlahovic’s contract is set to expire in 2026, meaning the 25-year-old is set to become a free agent in the summer.
According to Italian outlet Gazzetta, United are one of several clubs showing interest in Vlahovic ahead of the summer with Tottenham, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid.
The report adds that clubs could move early to try and seal a deal for Vlahovic before a bidding war for his salary and signing-on bonuses begins in the summer.
Vlahovic earns close to £400,000 per week at Juventus, which will be a major concern for Ineos as they try to reclaim control of the wage bill at United.
Dusan Vlahovic is outscoring every Man United player
Sesko is being criticised at United for his start to the season, despite the Slovenian scoring two goals in the Premier League.
If Zirkzee is sold, Amorim will want another centre-forward to strengthen the squad, and Vlahovic guarantees goals and experience at the highest level.
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This season, Vlahovic has already scored six goals for Juventus, including three in the Champions League, despite only playing 755 minutes of football.
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It means the Serbian has outscored every United player this season. Bryan Mbeumo has scored five in the Premier League in 956 minutes for comparison.
Unlike Zirkzee, it is clear that Vlahovic would be a good fit for Amorim’s direct style of play.
from United In Focus https://ift.tt/a0qU2hJ