Man Utd Must Retain Joshua Zirkzee: Dutch Striker’s Magic Moments Too Valuable to Lose
December 2024 was a bizarre month for Joshua Zirkzee. It started with him banging in two against Everton, only to end in total humiliation hooked after just 33 minutes at Newcastle while United were getting battered, with his own fans sarcastically clapping him off.
Fast-forward a year and not much has changed: Zirkzee is still this weird enigma at Old Trafford. He hadn’t started a single league game until that grim afternoon against ten-man Everton at the end of November.
His performance that day was so bad it almost felt like Ruben Amorim had been proved right for leaving him out.
So when word got round that he was starting the next one at Crystal Palace, half the WhatsApp groups were full of United fans joking they’d rather stay at home.
Come full-time at Selhurst Park, though, the away end were shoehorning “Joshua Zirkzee” into Daft Punk’s ‘One More Time’ as it blasted out of the speakers.
From Mockery to Stealing the Show at Selhurst
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The Dutchman had just played a massive part in turning a dead-cert defeat into one of the unlikeliest wins of the season.
It wasn’t the first time he’s produced an absolute moment out of nowhere when nobody expected it, and it was the clearest possible reminder that United can’t let him walk out the door in January – no matter how fringe he still looks.
Zirkzee’s display against Crystal Palace mirrored his career at Manchester United to date. During the initial half, he contributed minimally, failing to attempt any shots and losing the majority of his aerial contests, with his opponent, Jean-Philippe Mateta, notably outperforming him.
Nevertheless, a significant transformation occurred in the second half. Zirkzee’s goal, arguably his finest for United, was the defining highlight, yet it also indicated a considerably improved overall showing.
What the Stats Show — and Why They Matter
His passing precision rose from 57% to 77%, and he finished the match having completed six key passes for teammates, his highest tally since the win over Everton a year previously.
Furthermore, he became more assertive, securing twice as many aerial challenges in the final thirty minutes compared to the initial sixty. One such successful duel resulted in the free-kick from which Mason Mount scored the decisive goal.
The Dutchman has a track record of turning around public opinion, as demonstrated after a challenging incident against Newcastle.
Within two weeks, he netted the winning penalty in the FA Cup third-round shootout against Arsenal.
He was subsequently celebrated by the 9,000 United fans in the Emirates Stadium away section, who seemed eager to make him feel appreciated following his earlier treatment at Old Trafford.
Just weeks later, Zirkzee completed his shift from being a target of criticism to becoming a fan favorite, with supporters chanting his name after his goal against Real Sociedad in San Sebastian.
He then added another goal in a Europa League away fixture, giving United the lead in Lyon with a late header.
However, his season was effectively curtailed in the subsequent game at Newcastle, where he sustained a thigh muscle injury.
While he did recover to appear as a substitute in the Europa League final, his return was not triumphant, as he could not prevent United’s significant defeat to Tottenham.
The summer must have been frustrating for him, as he witnessed the arrival of £200 million worth of new attacking talent.
After struggling to secure a regular starting position last season, even when Rasmus Hojlund was underperforming, Zirkzee found himself unselected early in the new campaign as Benjamin Sesko integrated into the squad.
Zirkzee was distinctly not the first-choice striker, being behind Sesko in the pecking order. He was also considered a distant fifth for the two attacking midfield roles operating behind the main forward.
By October, reports indicated his growing dissatisfaction with the lack of playing time, prompting his wish to depart in January.
With a major international tournament approaching, Zirkzee has not been selected for the Dutch national squad by coach Ronald Koeman in over a year, making his wish for a new beginning entirely justifiable.
Everton and West Ham have surfaced as possible Premier League destinations. However, the most significant interest is originating from Italy, a country where Zirkzee previously re-established his career at Bologna after his departure from Bayern Munich.
AC Milan and Como were initially mentioned, but Roma is currently making the most concerted effort to sign Zirkzee.
Roma, who are competing for their first Serie A title since 2001, are reportedly keen due to the underwhelming performances of their current attacking players, Artem Dobvyk and Evan Ferguson.
Nevertheless, Roma’s offer is a loan deal with a purchase option that is conditional upon their qualification for the Champions League.
Essentially, this type of agreement carries significant risk and offers little immediate benefit for United.
Manchester United acknowledges the inherent challenges of acquiring a new striker during the January transfer window, as demonstrated by their acquisition of Wout Weghorst in early 2023 to fill the void left by Cristiano Ronaldo.
Despite Zirkzee’s somewhat inconsistent and interrupted career at United so far, it is evident that retaining him, at least until the summer, holds significant value.
Zirkzee’s recent goal against Crystal Palace served as a timely reminder of his potent scoring ability when he finds himself in advantageous positions.
While often recognized more for his creative play and his capacity to involve teammates, the Dutch forward can also unleash a powerful strike with his right foot.
His Selhurst Park goal is arguably his best in a United shirt, showcasing remarkable composure as he controlled Bruno Fernandes’ free-kick with his chest before clinically firing it into the net from a very tight angle.
He had also displayed his clinical touch on his debut against Fulham, under then-manager Erik ten Hag, securing the victory with a delicate first-time finish.
Another testament to his shooting prowess was his goal against Real Sociedad, a thunderous long-range effort that completely confounded goalkeeper Alex Remiro.
Intriguingly, despite being primarily right-footed, Zirkzee exhibits equal comfort and skill when shooting with his left.
This was evident in his goal against Palace and a similar first-time finish he scored for Bologna against Cagliari – the initial strike in his tally of 12 goals during his final season in Serie A.
Zirkzee suggested he had been feeling less assured during his period without scoring, acknowledging the pressure to perform at a major club and that a sustained absence of goals can be psychologically challenging.
However, if Zirkzee was anticipating commendation from his coach after his display at Palace, his assumption was incorrect.
Prior to Thursday’s match against West Ham, Amorim stressed that Zirkzee had gained his opportunity to play only because of the recent unavailability of Matheus Cunha and Sesko.
Amorim clarified, “Josh is playing because we had numerous injuries. We need to be clear about that.” He elaborated on his philosophy, stating that “Such is the nature of football.
Players must simply be prepared when a chance arises. When the opportunity arises, my sole focus is on winning; I do not show favoritism. Players merely need to be ready, and they will succeed.”
Keep Him Until the Summer
Zirkzee did not perform optimally against Everton or during the initial period against Palace. However, he subsequently demonstrated to both his coach and supporters that he is a player capable of producing moments of exceptional quality, even if he finds it challenging to maintain this level consistently.
The Dutch player has experienced significant fluctuations in his performance during his brief tenure at Old Trafford, but his swift improvement in a single match indicated that he warrants continued investment until the end of the current season.
