Joshua Zirkzee’s next destination after Man United has just become clearer
Joshua Zirkzee’s Manchester United career could be drawing to a close ahead of the January transfer window.
Zirkzee has flopped at Man United since joining from Bologna in 2024, after scoring just seven goals in 54 appearances for the club.
The 24-year-old has dropped down the pecking order under Ruben Amorim as a result, and could force a move out of Old Trafford to revive his career.
Football Insider understands that West Ham and Everton are eager to sign Zirkzee in a desperate bid to fix their respective goalscoring woes, while other clubs have placed him on their shortlist.
Roma recently opened talks to sign Zirkzee ahead of January, and there’s a clear reason why a return to Italy could be his preferred destination.
Why Joshua Zirkzee could favour a return to Italy
The Mirror’s John Cross has reported that the Dutchman is ‘open’ to a move back to Italy as he made a name for himself at Bologna.
Roma make moves for Man United outcast Joshua Kirkzee but face stiff competition https://t.co/hv57RJko45
— John Cross (@johncrossmirror) November 13, 2025
As a result, Roma have emerged as frontrunners to land his signature, seeing an opportunity to offer him a loan switch in January with an option to make the move permanent.
Zirkzee earned his transfer to Manchester United after scoring 11 goals and assisting five during the 2023/24 Serie A campaign.
Sadly, those numbers have never looked like coming into fruition at United, with big-money signings Benjamin Sesko and Matheus Cunha ahead of him in the pecking order.
The former Anderlecht goal machine should therefore take inspiration from some ex-Man United players by moving to Italy.
Zirkzee should use Scott McTominay and Rasmus Hojlund as inspiration
When Man United sold Scott McTominay to Napoli in 2024, few could have imagined what sort of impact he would have at the Italian giants.
McTominay finished 18th in the Ballon d’Or rankings after totalling an impressive 18 goal involvements in Serie A across 2024/25.
Rasmus Hojlund also joined the Scotsman at Napoli during the 2025 summer window, sealing a loan switch with an obligation to join permanently for £38million in 2026.
Hojlund has shown glimpses of his talent since leaving with four goals in 10 appearances, including two strikers in the Champions League.
So, if Zirkzee returns to Italy in January, it wouldn’t be a shock to see him smash it in the same vein to McTominay and Hojlund.