- Man United reportedly prepared to offer Joshua Zirkzee as part of a transfer deal
- The 23-year-old has struggled for minutes since joining the club this summer
- Is Harry Kane right to blast England drop-outs? LISTEN NOW: It’s All Kicking Off! Available wherever you get your podcasts. Episodes every Monday and Thursday
Manchester United are reportedly prepared to offer Joshua Zirkzee as part of a deal to sign a top transfer target next summer.
Zirkzee arrived at Old Trafford in July, with then-boss Erik ten Hag paying £36.5million to sign the Dutchman from Bologna.
The 23-year-old enjoyed a dream start to his career with the club, netting the winner in United’s Premier League opener against Fulham after coming on as a second-half substitute.
However, he has been unable to find the net since then and hasn’t started a league game since the humiliating 3-0 defeat against Tottenham in September.
The arrival of Ruben Amorim has only posed further questions surrounding his future at the club, with reports suggesting the new manager is not fully convinced with the forward.
According to a report from Italian outlet Il Mattino, United are considering offering Zirkzee as part of a bid to sign Napoli’s Victor Osimhen in the summer.
Osimhen’s release clause at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona for clubs outside of Serie A is £63million but United are said to believe they could land him by offering Zirkzee and £25m.
Manchester United are said to be willing to offer Joshua Zirkzee in a bid to sign Victor Osimhen
Ruben Amorim is reportedly intent on signing the striker to revitalise his misfiring squad
Osimhen is currently on loan at Galatasaray, but has a £62m release clause in his Napoli contract
Osimhen has long been regarded as one of the best strikers in world football, and his 26 league goals were integral to Napoli securing their first Scudetto in more than three decades in 2023.
However, despite signing a bumper new deal at the club last year, Osimhen’s relationship with the Naples club later broke down, and he was forced to train away from the first team by Antonio Conte.
Despite being linked with a move to both the Premier League and Saudi Arabia in the summer, he ultimately joined Galatasaray on a season-long loan.
Since then the Nigeria international has enjoyed a flying start to life in the Turkish top flight with six goals and two assists in just five starts.
Osimhen also netted a brace as Okan Buruk’s side suffered a 3-2 defeat in the Europa League to Spurs earlier this month.
United’s search for more firepower comes as no surprise given the side’s lacklustre start to the campaign.
The Red Devils have netted just 12 league goals this season, with only relegation-threatened Everton, Crystal Palace and Southampton having scored fewer.
